Alabama takes on Florida for a top 15 SEC matchup in The Swamp: Time, TV, online streaming, betting odds

Week three brings with it the biggest early-season matchup in the SEC. Bryce Young and the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide head to The Swamp to take on the eleventh ranked Florida Gators.

How to watch or stream Alabama vs. Florida

Time: 3:30 ET
TV: CBS
Stream: cbssports.com, FuboTV

Betting odds

(via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Spread: Alabama -14.5 | Florida +14.5
Moneyline: Alabama -650 | Florida +460
Over/Under: Over 59.5 (-120) | Under 59.5 (+100)

A season ago, these two teams met in the SEC Championship game, putting up a ridiculous combined 98 points in a 52-46 Alabama victory. However, both teams couldn’t look any different now. Both teams have new quarterbacks and brand new sets of weapons for them. Things appear to be all quiet on the Alabama front, but for Florida, it’s anything but.

Dan Mullen refuses to admit it, but there is a massive quarterback controversy in Gainesville. Emory Jones has been less than impressive while Anthony Richardson has been perhaps the most explosive player in the country with the ball in his hands. Both will play big roles on Saturday if Florida hopes to stun the number one team in the country whose best defensive player’s status is still up in the air. They have the benefit of being at home for this cross-division matchup, and The Swamp will be rocking.

Gamebreakers

Alabama

• QB Bryce Young
  Season Stats: 2 GM | 571 yards | 70.8 comp% | 7 TD, 0 INT | 78.8 QBR
  — Young is the biggest cog in Alabama’s wheel as the QB usually is. He has a lot on his plate in his first true road test, and he’s going to see a lot of blitzes from Todd Grantham’s much improved defense, but should he replicate his Miami performance, look for the Tide at number one next week.
• Linebackers Henry To’o To’o and Christian Harris
  — With Will Anderson Jr.’s status up in the air for Saturday, Alabama could miss a key edge setter against the run. Florida is a much different offense this year, relying heavily on its ground game to set up their passing attack. Both Jones and Richardson are big play threats for one of the country’s best rushing attacks, and they attack the sidelines and use their speed at will. USF’s linebackers got sucked in constantly, leaving big lanes and big plays on the field for Florida. These two are vastly better than USF’s linebackers, but they have to contain Jones and especially Richardson on Saturday.
• WR Jameson Williams
  Stats: 7 receptions | 157 yards | 22.4 yards per reception | 2 TD
  — John Metchie rightfully steals the spotlight as the premiere wide receiver on this team, but it’s Jameson Williams who leads Alabama in receiving yards. He’s been a favorite big play threat of Bryce Young, and Alabama loves to take shots.

Florida

• QB Anthony Richardson
  Stats: 192 pass yds | 17.5 yds per attempt | 2 TD | 275 rush yds | 25.0 yds per carry | 2 TD
  — Well, yes, duh. Regardless, Richardson is the ultimate X-factor in this game. The result of this game may hinge on how Emory Jones plays, but Richardson should be leaned on heavily against this stout Alabama defense to take that pressure off of him.
• The pass rush
  — This may be cheating a little, but Florida’s pass rush is going to be absolutely vital. Zachary Carter is a beast on the edge, and he’s joined by Khris Bogle, Tre’Vez Johnson, and Jeremiah Moon to round out a very deep group of edge rushers. Alabama’s line has good pieces, but it’s been shaky early on this season. Everyone knows Todd Grantham’s scorched earth method of blitzing, especially on third down, and they have to pressure the inexperienced Bryce Young and hope it rattles him inside Florida’s hostile confines.
• Dan Mullen
  — It’s this simple. Anthony Richardson is good to go according to Mullen, saying he’s looked fine in practice coming off a hamstring injury late in the game against USF. If Florida wants to win, Mullen is going to have to stop being so stubborn about Emory Jones as the starting QB. This is Anthony Richardson’s offense to lead. He’s been the most dynamic player in football and is a weapon you want on the field as much as possible. Mullen’s decision making are vital to Florida’s chances on Saturday.