Fans of Alabama and Florida certainly take different approaches in dressing up for a Saturday afternoon gridiron clash.
Stewart Mandel/SI

ATLANTA -- Greetings from the Georgia Dome, site of the most monumental SEC Championship Game in the long, distinguished history of SEC Championship Games. No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 (or 3 or 4, depending on which rankings you're using) Florida.

Christmas has come to the South three weeks early this year.

Yesterday, I wrote about the perceived differences between Florida and Alabama's styles of football, and how Gators coach Urban Meyer doesn't think they're all that different.

Today, I'm here to write about an equally pressing matter: The difference in style between the two teams' fans game-day attire. Let me tell you something: No one would ever call these "identical."

They take football extremely seriously at Alabama, and it's evident in the way the fans dress. Walking around the parking lots a little while ago, I stumbled across what seemed like 8,000 gorgeous young Alabama belles -- and they seem to have devised a coordinated game-day uniform.

Almost without exception, it calls for a black, white (or striped with both) sweater, an accompanying scarf and a fashionable black winter coat. There seems to be a split between black leggings and skirts. Meanwhile, many of the men sport Bear Bryant-esque blazers.

Basically, they look like they're going to a cocktail reception:

Stewart Mandel/SI

Florida fans, meanwhile ... are basically wearing orange-and-blue T-shirts or sweatshirts. And I'm pleased to report that, even in 40-degree weather, I can confirm several sightings of Gator fans' patented "jorts."

As for the game itself -- as you may have seen, Meyer is now saying that star receiver Percy Harvin likely won't play against the Tide. Between that and the Gators' mounting defensive-line injuries, I'm feeling increasingly less confident in my Florida pick.

Then again, as I type this, I'm staring out at a lush stretch of field turf -- and it's not too hard to envision Chris Rainey or Jeff Demps launching into ludicrous speed.