Florida in hurry to clinch SEC East

Jon Saraceno GAINESVILLE, FLA. If Florida wins Saturday against Georgia, it would represent the earliest a Southeastern Conference team has clinched a berth in the league’s title game.

“The main ( goal) is to get the two best teams in the league in the (championship) game. It doesn’t matter how or when it happens,” SEC assistant commissioner Charles Bloom said. “It really doesn’t matter when a team clinches.”

In the de facto SEC East title game, the unbeaten Gators (7-0, 6-0 in the SEC) will be challenged by the oncebeaten Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1) in their annual bash known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. The Gators have dominated the rivalry since 1990, winning 18 of 22.

Florida, with a win Saturday, would beat by three days the previous earliest SEC title-game clincher. Alabama (1993) and Auburn (2004) wrapped up SEC championship-game guarantees Oct. 30.

The record date comes with an asterisk. It is more a function of the Gators’ schedule, which includes only one non-conference clash before eight scheduled SEC games.

“Big rivalry, big game: This determines whether we go to Atlanta or not,” Gators junior right guard Jon Halapio said. The title game is Dec. 1 in Atlanta. Georgia vs. Florida is one of four head-to-head matchups Saturday of teams in the top 14 of the Bowl Championship Series standings. No. 5 Notre Dame plays at No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 14 Texas Tech plays at No. 3 Kansas State and No. 11 Mississippi State plays at No. 1 Alabama.

For the sixth time in school history, Florida is 7-0. It is the only Football Bowl Subdivision school that has defeated a pair of top-10 teams this season — No. 4 LSU and No. 8 South Carolina . The Gators have dominated SEC teams, outscoring them 184-71 — including 108-21 in the second half.

“We understand what is at stake,” Gators coach Will Muschamp said. “(But) our approach will be the same. It’s the next game, and that’s why it’s the most important game.”