Teams: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Date: January 8, 2009 at 8 p.m. Eastern
Location: Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Fla.

Analysis

After disappointing back-to-back national title games, this one should live up to the hype. Oklahoma and Florida possess lethal offenses and points should be aplenty in this one. Both teams enter this game on a roll. Since losing by one point to Ole Miss in late September, the Gators reeled in nine consecutive wins while Oklahoma has won seven in a row.

The Sooners have lost four consecutive BCS bowl appearances but they are promising a different attitude this time around. Sam Bradford is the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner and the leader of one of the most prolific offenses in college football history. The Sooners have scored 60 points in five consecutive games and have posted some ridiculous individual numbers along the way. Running backs Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray both went over 1,000 yards and combined for 34 rushing touchdowns while Bradford passed for 48 scores and nearly 4,500 yards.

The Sooners will be missing one of their key offensive cogs when they take the field, as Murray is out with an injured tendon in his hamstring. With Murray out, Mossis Madu will be asked to pickup the slack, but Brown is more than capable of toting the ball 30 times between the tackles. Although the Sooners have ripped apart Big 12 defenses, the Florida defense might be the best they have played this year. The Gators are allowing less than 13 points per game and rank ninth nationally in total defense. Considering the Gators have speedy corners and plenty of depth in the secondary, they should match up well against the Oklahoma passing game. Linebacker Brandon Spikes will be in charge of stuffing Brown and Madu when they break into the next level.

Although the Sooners offense led the NCAA in scoring offense, the Gators averaged over 50 points in their final eight games. Tim Tebow has not thrown an interception since late October and collected 40 total touchdowns this season. The junior is the catalyst for this offense but there is no shortage of talented weapons around him. Receiver Percy Harvin missed the SEC Championship due to injury but should be healthy for this game. Speedy running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have combined for 1,237 yards and 11 scores.

The Oklahoma defensive statistics aren’t overwhelmingly impressive but some of that is due to the offense taking big leads and opposing teams throwing from behind. The Sooners rank third nationally in sacks per game but will be without defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger. In order for the Sooners to win this game, they have to contain big plays by Harvin, Demps and Rainey and force the Gators to drive the length of the field.

In a close game, special teams could be the difference. Florida has the edge in this department, with Brandon James averaging 14.1 yards per punt return and taking two for touchdowns. Oklahoma has struggled on covering kicks all season and with one of the best return men in the country at Florida, this has to be a major concern for Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Breakdown: Florida

Campus Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Distance to (Miami): 337 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 16–19
2008 Season: 12–1, 7–1 SEC

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 11 (230)
Pass Offense: 61 (213)
Scoring Offense: 3 (45)
Rush Defense: 16 (105)
Pass Defense: 19 (174)
Scoring Defense: 5 (13)
Turnover Margin: 2 (1.69)

Additional Notes:
This is the first meeting between Florida and Oklahoma…The Gators are second nationally in turnover margin…The Gators are going for their second national championship in three seasons and third in school history…Tebow, Harvin, offensive tackle Phil Trautwein and Spikes were named first-team All-SEC.

Breakdown: Oklahoma

Campus Location: Norman, Okla.
Distance to (Miami): 1,546 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 24–16–1
2008 Season: 12–1, 7–1 Big 12

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 18 (206)
Pass Offense: 3 (357)
Scoring Offense: 1 (54)
Rush Defense: 18 (106)
Pass Defense: 99 (253)
Scoring Defense: 57 (25)
Turnover Margin: 1 (1.77)

Additional Notes:
Oklahoma is first nationally in turnover margin…Bob Stoops previously coached at Florida from 1996-1998 as a defensive coordinator under Steve Spurrier…This is only the second time ever that Heisman Trophy winners will face off in a bowl game. Behind Matt Leinart, USC defeated Oklahoma and Jason White in the 2005 Orange Bowl…Bradford was named the Associated Press Player of the Year…The Sooners are playing for their eighth national championship.

Prediction: Florida by 3

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