One of the most anticipated national championship games in a long time, the Oklahoma Sooners will battle the Florida Gators from the Orange Bowl in Miami on January 8th.  We have two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks going against each other for the first time since Jason White went against Matt Leinart.  Does Florida have an unfair advantage?  Some may say home field hurts the Sooners chances. Instead of looking at that stupid reason, take a look at the matchup.  The offense of Oklahoma against the defense and speed of Florida.  We take a look at each position and see what team has the advantage. HERE IS THE REPORT CARD:

QUARTERBACKS
     Right off the bat, people may swing toward the newly crowned Heisman Trophy winner, but I say its not quite that easy.  Sam Bradford has had a remarkable year leading a team who has scored 60 or more points for five straight weeks.  Also, his statistics are out of this world.  His 48 touchdowns were more than any other Heisman winner ever.  He finished the year with those 48 TD’s and only 6 interceptions.  
     On Florida’s side there is a guy named Tebow.  Tim Tebow, who finished third in the Heisman voting this year, could be the best leader I have seen in college football since former Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel.  Tebow’s statistics do not typically blow you away, although 28 touchdowns and 2 interceptions has to stand for something, he displays everything a leader must have.  This was clearly displayed after their week five loss to Ole Miss.  Tebow came out and put that loss squarely on his shoulders and explained to everyone that this Gators team would play harder than any other team in the nation.  
     You can either take the stats and poise of Bradford, or the intensity that is Tim Tebow.  Either way, you can’t go wrong.  I give the edge in quarterbacks to Florida and Tim Tebow.  Not only do you have to worry about the pass, but the run as well. 
QUARTERBACKS: Tim Tebow, Florida Gators

RUNNING BACKS
     This game will be displaying some of the most athletic running backs ever in a national championship setting.  The Florida Gators display a running attack that is not typically run through their backs.  Their running game is behind their quarterback Tim Tebow and star studded wide receiver Percy Harvin.  Running backs Chris Rainey and Jeffery Demps each average about eight yards per carry, but their versatility is nowhere near comparable to the Sooners.  Both Rainey and Demps combined have 17 receptions and 167 yards. 
     The Sooners have the most explosive backfield in all the country.  The combination of power and speed set these running backs apart from any others.  Demarco Murray, possibly the most explosive player in the nation, has just over 1,000 rushing yards and 395 receiving yards with a combined 18 touchdowns.  Not to mention an average of 12.7 yards per catch and 5.6 per rush.  To the contrary, running back Chris Brown provides the power.  Brown seen as the LenDale White of this offense during the days of USC’s dominance.  Brown is a workhouse having 195 carries and 1,110 yards with twenty touchdowns.  Their versatility and speed cannot be handled by any team, even the Gators.
RUNNING BACKS: Demarco Murray and Chris Brown, Oklahoma Sooners

WIDE RECEIVERS
     The wide receivers in this game could be the biggest playmakers of all.  The Oklahoma Sooners have several receivers that make big plays.  Although not one of them made First Team All Big 12 honors, but you can hardly blame the voters.  Jeremy Maclin, Dez Bryant, and Michael Crabtree are not too shabby.  The Sooners leading receiver is Senior leader and Second Team All Big 12 performer Juaquin Iglesias who has caught 69 passes for 1,092 yards, while averaging nearly 16 yards per catch.  Other stars at the position include Senior Manuel Johnson and soon to be star, Freshman Ryan Broyles.  This combination of receivers gives Oklahoma their dynamic offense.
     Florida may not be as versatile, but they do have the fastest player on the field.  Percy Harvin, who was unable to play in Florida’s win over Alabama in the SEC Championship game, will be back from an ankle injury and ready to roam.  He may be small for a receiver at 5′ 11″ but he makes up for it with his speed.  He was named to the All SEC First Team with his 35 catches for 7 touchdowns.  He is a threat to run and catch the ball and is notorious for running the option or an end around with his blocker being Tim Tebow.  Do not count out the Florida receiving core including Senior Louis Murphy who has caught 6 touchdowns.  The Gators may have the best dual threat receiver, but the Sooners have the all around wide receivers.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Oklahoma Sooners

TIGHT ENDS
     To me, this is simple.  The best tight end in the nation is Jermaine Gresham of the Oklahoma Sooners.  It seemed to me that it took the Oklahoma State game for people to realize how special a player Gresham is.  Not only can he catch, but his athleticism and blocking is bar none to any tight end in the nation.  Gresham was named the First Team All Big 12 tight end, while catching 58 passes with 12 of them being touchdowns. 
     Florida has no chance to win the battle of the tight ends.  Aaron Hernandez, a sophomore occupies their tight end spot standing at 6′ 3″ 255 pounds.  He is normally used as a blocker for plays around Tebow and Harvin, but his skills as a receiver are not bad, collecting 29 catches for 5 touchdowns.  Look out for Tebow and his jump passes, which Hernandez has a tendency to come down with. 
     Overall, Jermaine Gresham is the best tight end in the nation, regardless of what Chase Coffman is doing for Missouri.  Jermaine could be the biggest X-Factor come January when these teams meet up.
TIGHT ENDS: Oklahoma Sooners

OFFENSIVE LINE
     Some may think Oklahoma would run away with the offensive line battle, but I say not so fast.  The offensive lines for both squads are big, but also quick.  For Florida, the big boys up front need to be able to maneuver around the crazy offensive designs of Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen (newly announced Mississippi State head coach).  The Gators average 315 pounds up front and had two all SEC performers in Senior Phil Trautwein and Sophomore Mike Pouncey.  Each weighing just above 310 pounds, but who’s counting?
     For the Sooners, they host a front line averaging 322 pounds.  Four out of their five lineman were named to the All Big 12 team, with three being First Team, and Jon Cooper being Second.  Ironic about this is that Cooper won Big 12 Lineman of the Year.  The Sooners have the edge in size and experience.  All four of the All Conference lineman are juniors and above. 
     I give the edge to the Sooners but not by much.  The offensive line has willed Oklahoma to five straight games of 60 or more points by protecting Sam Bradford.  Don’t look for 60 again, but the strength of the O-Line gives the Sooners a slight advantage.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Oklahoma Sooners

DEFENSE
     With all the offensive skill positions taken care of, it leaves the rest up to defense and special teams.  Defense to me will be the single most important aspect for both teams.  The more stops and/or turnovers each team can get will send them on their way to victory.  The explosive offense of Oklahoma against the outstanding defense of Florida. 

DEFENSIVE LINE
     For both teams in the game, it will be up to the defensive lines to get a solid push against the large offensive lines.  The size of both the offensive lines seems like a mismatch of size, but quickness could provide some problems.  The Florida Gators totaled 31 sacks for the season, which put them 33rd in the country in that category.  They are led by Sophomore Carlos Dunlap who had 9 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, leading the team in both.  The Gators have Jermaine Cunningham, who could be one of the most diverse defensive ends.  Not only did he notch 6 sacks, but he had 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and ten tackles for a loss. 
     For the Sooners, the defensive line has been one of their strong points.  They led the nation in sacks with 42 and an average of three per game.  The line is led by First Team All Big 12 selection Gerald McCoy and Second teamer Jeremy Beal.  McCoy has 6.5 sacks while Beal has 8.5.  This may not total to the leader for the Gators, but they have numerous stars who can come on the line and earn a sack.  One of the leaders of this defense, Austin English has been battling injuries all year, but will finally be healthy come gameday.  They have all four starting defensive lineman averaging 4.5 sacks or more. 
     People may say Oklahoma just has an offense, but thats not true.  They will win the battle up front by shuffling guys in and out of the line providing players with fresh legs to give the Florida offensive line some trouble.
DEFENSIVE LINE: OKLAHOMA SOONERS

LINEBACKERS
     The best linebacker in this game resides in Gainesville, Florida and was a finalist for the Butkus award for the best defensive player.  Junior inside linebacker Brandon Spikes is a flat out stud and can do it all.  He notched 87 tackles and nearly averaged 8 per game.  He had 8 tackles for a loss and was credited with two sacks.  The thing that sets Spikes about from most others is his 4 interceptions, two of them resulting in touchdowns.  He will be the single most influential person on the field, either blitzing or trying to read quarterback Sam Bradford’s eyes.
     The Sooners have gone through all sorts of construction with their linebacking core.  Earlier in the season against Texas, they lost Senior leader Ryan Reynolds for the season, a pre-season All-American.  They replaced him with Austin Box who had done a tremendoes job until he got hurt towards the end of the season.  This is Oklahoma’s week spot.  They have the Big 12 defensive freshman of the year in Travis Lewis, who notched 137 tackles and 4 interceptions.  Look out for junior Keenan Clayton in this game as well, as he totaled 78 tackles on the year.
     To me its simple.  The best linebacker in the nation gives Florida the edge.  Spikes’s versatility and speed on defense gives opposing offenses fits.  The Florida linebacking core is one of the best I have seen in a long time.  Look for them to make some big plays on the 8th.
LINEBACKERS: FLORIDA GATORS

CORNERBACKS
       For Florida, the cornerbacks need to play better than they have played in their entire lives.  They are second in the nation to Boston College in interceptions as a team with 24.  They are led by Sophomore Joe Haden who had three interceptions and was named Second Team All SEC.
     The biggest flaw that the Gators have is that they have not been tested all year.  They were tested somewhat don’t get me wrong, mostly by Julio Jones in the SEC championship, but the SEC is not known for their wide receivers.  Both Sooners cornerbacks were named to the All Big 12 team for their abilities to make big plays.  That is what this game could be all about.  Senior Lendy Holmes tallied 5 interceptions, while Sophomore Dominique Franks notched four and broke ten passes up.  These guys constantly match up with high quality wide receivers.  Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree, and Jordan Shipley just to name a few.  Also, the cornerbacks help to give Oklahoma their nation leading 1.77 turnover margin.  
CORNERBACKS: OKLAHOMA SOONERS

SAFETIES
     This game will be spotlighting two of the best safeties all the country.  For the Oklahoma Sooners, redshirt Senior Nic Harris is trying to go out on top.  This First Team All Big 12 selection notched 64 tackles, three for a loss, and forced three fumbles.  He may not have the stats to jump out at you, but hardly will you ever see him out of position.  The secondary of the sooners shifts around by playing safeties at corner and corners at safety.  This constant shuffling and the sense of the unknown for their safeties hurts their ability to be on right page.  This is the single reason on their defense as to why they give up a lot of big plays over their safeties heads. 
     For Florida, the safeties need to play well to keep Bradford and his crew off the field.  Second Team All SEC performer Ahmad Black leads the team with 6 interceptions and two of them returned for touchdowns.  This guy can do it all by achieving 54 tackles and 6 passes broken up.  If it weren’t for Rashad Johnson from Alabama, Black would be a unanimous First Team All SEC.  Sophomore safety Major Wright is a playmaker next to Black, who had 3 interceptions with one of them resulting in touchdowns.
     Florida has the better safeties and possibly the better defense.  These two defenses are so different because the Sooners may get more turnovers, but the Gators get more third down stops.  It will be interesting to see who gives up the fewer amount of big plays.
SAFETIES: FLORIDA GATORS

SPECIAL TEAMS
     Another no-brainer for me.  The Oklahoma Sooners have not been proven to be able to cover a kickoff or punt.  If the game against Texas and Oklahoma State did not show you that, I am not sure what will.  The Sooners will be trying to cut down the return ability of Brandon James.  One of the most explosive kick and punt return men in the nation.  James averages 14 yards per punt return with two touchdowns. 
     For the Sooners, it is up to Demarco Murray and Juaquin Iglesias who share the duties of returning punts and kicks.  They only have one touchdown on special teams and thats a punt return by Freshman sensation Ryan Broyles.  This comparison in special teams is simple.  Florida has the edge.
SPECIAL TEAMS: FLORIDA GATORS

COACHING
     How can you go against both of these coaches.  Bob Stoops for the Sooners has an overall record of 109-23 and a national championship in 2000.  He is 4-5 all-time in bowl games, and he has not won one since the Holiday Bowl in 2005.  This has been the criticism of Stoops in the last few years.  
     Florida head coach Urban Meyer is 82-17 overall going back to his year at Utah.  His bowl record is 5-1 and won a national championship in 2006.  Both of these coaches have been there.  Meyer more recently, but Stoops more overall.  How can you match up these guys?  You don’t.  I give it a tie.
COACHING: TIE

This game on January 8th is one of the most anticipated national championship games since USC vs. Texas in 2006.  You have the explosive offense behind the Heisman Trophy winner with Oklahoma and an explosive defense and leader on offense.  It is hard to match these two teams, but one will come out on top by a slim margin.

PREDICTION
     Both teams come into this game with one loss.  The Gators loss sticking out most to Ole Miss, while the Sooners fell to Texas.  I love the offense of Oklahoma and the turnover, ball hawking style of defense.  I think the Sooners win this game on the shoulders of their quarterback and offensive line.  Look for the game to be high scoring. (yeah, really going out on a limb on that one)  
PREDICTION: Sooners 41-31
     Look for 4 touchdowns from Bradford and another two from the running backs.
     For the Gators, Tebow will play well, but a couple fumbles from the receivers or running backs will doom them.
    

  
   

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