2009 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Here is another excellent writeup by an unbiased fan of college football, Kofi Bofah.

Published December 27, 2008, Associated Content

The 2009 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship featuring the Florida Gators versus the Oklahoma Sooners is set to be a dandy. The controversial Bowl Championship Series, which relies upon an algorithm of human voters, computer rankings, and strength of schedule to conclude upon a top two National Championship matchup is never without controversy. This year, Texas, USC, Texas Tech, Penn State, Alabama, and even Utah are all one-loss or fewer college football powerhouses that could have presented a legitimate case for inclusion within the BCS National Championship Game.

The outrage and contradictory chatter has been quieted by this delicious matchup.

The Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners field two Heisman Trophy winners in Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, two championship coaches, and eight Associated Press All-Americans. The individual star power is unparalleled as both teams arrive at the forefront of the national title picture courtesy of dominant second half seasons. Oklahoma and Florida are the recently installed champions of their respective Big 12 and SEC conferences - leagues identified as the strongest top-to-bottom divisions in college football. These are the two hottest teams in America right now.

Oklahoma's only blemish on its 12-1 record is a 45-35 Red River shootout loss to the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. Following that October 11th defeat, the Sooners have rolled toseven straight victories that include four wins over ranked opponents. OU's scintillating offense has scored over sixty points the last five games while destroying Big 12 stalwarts Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Missouri. The offensive juggernaut set NCAA single-season records with 97 touchdowns and 702 points.

Certainly, Bob Stoops directed the troops to open up the style point floodgates to usurp the Texas Longhorns in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. The Big 12 South division transformed into a rock-paper-scissors drama of Texas beating Oklahoma, Texas Tech edging Texas on a last-second bomb, and the Oklahoma Sooners emerging to throttle the Texas Tech Red Raiders 65-21 at Norman.

The offense is powered by a Dream Team NFL-Ready lineup. Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford has thrown for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns on 68% passing. Bradford plays pitch-and-catch with big play threat senior 1,000 yard wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and mammoth tight end Jermaine Gresham. The backfield features two slashing 1,000 rushers in DeMarco Murray (out for BCS National Championship Game) and Chris Brown.

The skill positions are covered by a menacing offensive line that gashes the opposition for gaping running holes and provides the perfect throwing lanes for the Sooner's shotgun-spread attack. The big uglies are fortified by two massive All-American 330 pound senior lineman in guard Duke Robinson and the 6'8 tackle Phil Loadholt.

The defense is perceived as a weakness while giving up large chunks of yardage and scoring throughout the year. I must speculate that the statistics are distorted by defensive play calling that eases aggressive blitzing pressure in blowout games. Also, the Big 12 Conference is loaded with top shelf quarterbacking and offensive firepower. The Sooner defense has been tested by the likes of Texas, Missouri, and Texas Tech machines that have racked up staggering numbers against all opponents. Still, the weak link of this roster has yet to be thoroughly exposed by the loss column.

The Sooner offense is so proficient that only one defensive stop is necessary to win.

Oklahoma will be staring down Tim Tebow - the one man wrecking crew and face of the Florida Gators. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback's Knute Rockne moment and speech is set to be preserved forever in NCAA lore. Following a devastating loss at The Swamp to the lowly Mississippi Rebels, Tebow apologized for the defeat and boomed:

"You have never seen any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of this season and you'll never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of this season, and you'll never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season."

The Golden Boy quarterback backed up the talk with a 2008 performance of 2,515 yards passing at a 65% completion rate for 28 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. The dual-threat battering ram is also Florida's third leading rusher with 564 yards gained on the ground. Tebow accounts for 54% of the Gator offense and 40 of the 72 touchdowns scored by this unit in 2008.

Tebow is flanked by Percy Harvin - the dangerous multipurpose sidekick that is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. The junior game changer is one of the most electric performers in college football and is a force as a split end flanked to the outside, motioning into the backfield, or as a return specialist. Harvin has been clocked at blistering 4.2 and 4.33 times in the 40 yard dash and is the epitome of SEC speed.

Speed kills and the Gators have plenty of it.

The ferocious defense is built for the fast track. Quick sideline to sideline linebacking and lean defensive ends that swarm opposing backfields with aggressive tenacity is a staple of Florida football. This 2008-2009 Gator edition is no different. The club boasts a fifth ranked defensethat concedes a meager twelve points per game in the brutal Southeastern Conference.

The unit is led by tackling machine Brandon Spikes at middle linebacker. Spikes has emerged as a top defender in NCAA Bowl Championship Series football and is a scouts dream of size, speed, and awareness. The Mike was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's best defensive player - joining the ranks of USC's Rey Maulaluga and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.

The solid play of Florida's maturing defense parallels the rise of the Gator program from a wide-eyed 2007-2008 bunch decimated by NFL defections following the 2007 BCS National Championship crown into today's formidable championship contender.

The stage has been set. Let us present and analyze the three most critical match ups that will determine the outcome of the 2009 BCS National Championship Game:

3: Florida's Front Seven versus Oklahoma Sooner Offensive Line

Sam Bradford has gone untouched all season. The Heisman Trophy quarterback compiles overwhelming passing statistics while confidently scanning the field and running through the Sooner progression of routes behind his bulwark of 300 pound linemen.

Will the Sooner offensive line pancake the smallish Florida defensive front for outrageous holes that gash and soften the Gator defense with an effective ground game?

If so, the shot gun spread formation will prove to be an unstoppable nightmare featuring a balanced mix of running and pass plays. Additionally, all-word tight end Jermaine Gresham will be given the green light to run free from the line of scrimmage and torch the opposing secondary.

Perfectly timed traps, draws, wide receiver screens, and play action calls have mystified defenses all year. The damage begins up-front behind the man eating Sooner line featuring two All-Americans. This is the most cohesive unit in all of NCAA Bowl Championship Series football.

The Gator front seven is a relatively lean group that is built for SEC speed at the expense of sheer power. The Florida Gators will be mauled in hand-to-hand trench warfare without the benefit of intelligent blitz packages and scheming.

Florida's Front Seven versus Oklahoma Sooner Offensive Line

Advantage: Oklahoma Sooners

2: Urban Meyer versus Bob Stoops

Ironically, Urban Meyer's shot gun spread offense that he perfected at Utah has overtaken college football and will be used against him. The movement has been crystallized by the installation of the pass-happy attack at Oklahoma University. Certainly, the ghosts of OU wishbone formation triple-option Football have rolled over their graves 87 times.

Both coaches are of BCS National Championship pedigree. Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops have restored their respective programs to Glory with machine-like recruiting, world-class training, and motivational tactics that border upon genius. These two coaches, along with Pete Carroll are set to accept the baton of Legend that has transcended the modern era from Hayes - Schembechler to Bowden - Paterno.

Urban Meyer has been here before.

His 2007 BCS Championship team faced off against a top-ranked Ohio State Buckeye club of awe-inspiring offensive firepower. The scarlet and gray arrived at the Championship Game stacked with Heisman Trophy quarterback Troy Smith, speedy wide out Tedd Ginn, possession receiver Anthony Gonzalez, and a dangerous Akron, OH running back duo featuring Antonio Pittman and freshman sensation Chris "Beanie" Wells. Whereas Florida had struggled to win the SEC and BCS fandom was out-for-blood - calling for a Michigan-Ohio State rematch to determine the 2007 BCS National Championship.

The University of Florida Gators destroyed The Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14.

Meanwhile, Stoops and Oklahoma were being abused, torched, and befuddled by upstart Boise State in a shocking 43-42 overtime loss at the Fiesta Bowl.

Is Bob Stoops really a big game coach?

2004 BCS National Championship: LSU 21 - Oklahoma 14

2005 BCS National Championship: USC 55 - Oklahoma 19

2007 BCS Fiesta Bowl: Boise State 43 - Oklahoma 42

2008 BCS Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia 48 - Oklahoma 28

Urban Meyer versus Bob Stoops

Advantage: Urban Meyer and his Florida Gators.

1: Tim Tebow versus Sam Bradford

The 2009 BCS National Championship may come down to whichever quarterback has the football in his possession for the final drive. These quarterbacks have already faced off against each other in the hallowed corridors of the New York City Athletic club for the coveted Heisman Trophy. Of course, the true score will be settled on the gridiron at Miami.

The fiery Tebow and his Gator troops will rally behind the Heisman snub to Sam Bradford.

The Sooners will battle valiantly - desperate to prove that the award was no fluke.

Tim Tebow is battle tested. The 6'3 240 pound Superman was the driving force that rallied the young 2007-2008 Florida Gators to a 9-4 record during his sophomore campaign. Tebow skyrocketed to national prominence and the Heisman Fraternity that year with a record setting3,286 yards passing, 895 yards rushing, and 55 total touchdown performance.

The wunderkind has emerged from five-star Mr. Florida High School quarterback glamour-boy recruit to a curious change-of-pace backup on a BCS National Championship team to The Man at Gainesville. Tim Tebow is everything to the University of Florida and is a proven difference maker when the game is on the line.

Bradford has yet to get his uniform dirty all year. Let's see just how precise Mr. Sooner Quarterback Sam Bradford can be the first time he gets his block knocked off by a perfectly timed safety blitz.

Tim Tebow versus Sam Bradford.

Advantage: Tim Tebow's Florida Gators

2009 BCS National Championship Prediction:

Florida Gators - 31

Oklahoma Sooners - 27