It’s the final stretch in college football and these two teams are in a foot race for a chance to play in the championship game.

Yes, it’s Week 15 of the 2008 NCAA college football season. With only three more games to play for most of these teams, every win is as important as the next one with the BCS bowl games just around the corner.

And in perhaps the biggest game of the week, the No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide will play hosts to the No.4 Florida Gators this Saturday. One of the two spots for the BCS national championship game will be at stake so you just know both teams will be coming in strong, looking to win this huge game, by any means necessary.

The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) were ranked 24th in the preseason AP Top 25, an indication that improvement was expected from a team that went 7-6 and didn’t receive a single poll vote at the end of Nick Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa. A five-point underdog to preseason ACC favorite Clemson Tigers on Aug.30 in Atlanta, Alabama dominated the No.9 Tigers, holding the ball for more than 41 minutes of a 34-10 victory. Yep, the Florida Gators are in for a tough battle indeed.

Ball control and defense were key for the success of the Tide as they have piled up 11 wins. Alabama ranks third in the Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense (11.5 ppg) and total defense (248.5 yards per game), and is eighth in time of possession (32:32).

So after 12 wins, including three road or neutral site victories over top-15 opponents, the Tide now have 62 of the 65 first-place votes in the AP poll. However, the team receiving the other three opened the week as a 10-point favorite to beat the No.1 team of the nation this Saturday.

The Florida Gators (11-1, 7-1) boast the nation’s third-highest scoring offense. The Gators average 46.3 points, and with Tim Tebow looking as sharp as ever, they’ve put up an average of 53.7 while winning each of their last seven games by at least four touchdowns.

With Saturday’s winner almost certain to grab one of the two spots in the BCS championship game on Jan.8 in Miami, Florida’s offensive dominance has made it the popular pick and it’s made a 31-30 home loss to Ole Miss in late September seem like ancient history.

Can the Florida Gators beat the Alabama Crimson Tide and earn a spot to the BCS national championship game? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Florida Gators -10 (1.95)

Alabama Crimson Tide +10 (1.87)

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Florida Gators Alabama Crimson Tide