Zow expecting close SEC Championship

He grew up 35 minutes from the University of Florida campus and went on to become a three-year starter and one of Alabama's all-time leading passers. But ask Andrew Zow who he thinks will win Saturday's SEC Championship Game between the second-ranked Gators and the No. 1 Crimson Tide and you won't get a prediction, but you will get some insight.

"I really don't have a thought on that," said Zow, who threw for 5,329 yards and 29 touchdowns between 1998 and 2000 for Alabama. "I can say I think it will be a good game, but not as high scoring as a lot of people believe.

"I'm looking for the defenses to control the game."

Zow said he doesn't expect either team to score as much as 30 points, something Florida has done in every game this season except one (a 26-3 victory against Miami in Week Two). But he does give a key to reaching that number.

"I'm interested to see if either side can take control offensively," Zow said. "Alabama would do it through the run and Florida through big plays."

Zow grew up in Lake Butler, where he was the quarterback on three straight FHSAA Class 3A state championship teams for Union County High School (1994-96).

He said he never was a Gator fan, but added he really didn't follow college football much, as he preferred the NFL (the San Francisco 49ers in particular) as a child. Florida, Florida State and Miami all were recruiting Zow until he tore his ACL prior to his senior year (he returned late that season).

At that point, those schools backed off, but the Crimson Tide stayed with him.

"They were always there," said Zow, now the UCHS football coach.

Zow stays in touch with coaches and players in Tuscaloosa and will be in Atlanta this weekend to watch the game and participate in the Dr. Pepper SEC Fanfare, which is a short walk from the Georgia Dome.

He said he understands the Gators being favored and said a similar circumstance happened in 1999 when his Tide beat UF 40-39 in overtime in Gainesville yet were the underdogs in the SEC Championship Game rematch (won 34-7 by Alabama).

"They scored a lot of points and I guess (the bookmakers) thought our first win was a fluke," Zow said.

Zow said he actually was surprised the betting line for this weekend's game was just 10 points in favor of the Gators.

"I thought maybe it would be 21," Zow said. "Points scored are on everybody's mind and Alabama has won a lot of games ugly this year while Florida has put up a lot.

"But I believe it will be low scoring."