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Title game will test OU offense, UF defense
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 1/7/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/7/2009  2:39 AM

 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Thursday's national championship game between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Florida features the marquee matchup not only of this season, but maybe for the ages.

The showcase of the Sooners' seemingly unstoppable offense and the Gators' unbending defense may be college football's most intriguing test of wills in years.

"The problem we have, it's going to be a matchup problem because they have so many great athletes," said Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. "We've got to match up."

Oklahoma leads the nation in scoring, a school record 54.0 points per game and NCAA record 702 total. They're just the second team in nearly 140 years of college football to score 60 points in five consecutive games, and the first ever with nine 50-point games in a season. The Sooners are third nationally in total offense, averaging 562.1 yards per game. OU also leads the nation in passing efficiency, and can become just the second team in NCAA history to average more than 300 yards per game passing and 200 rushing.

But it seems if any defense is equipped to slow down the Sooners, it's Florida. In an era when 500 yards total offense has become passé, the Gators rank ninth nationally in yards allowed per game, giving up just 279.3. Florida's per-game average of 12.8 points allowed is fifth-best in the country. Stocked with fleet-footed athletes at virtually every position, UF excels at pressuring quarterbacks, and their man-to-man coverage scheme has built a pass efficiency rating
that's second in the country.

"I kind of wish we were playing a bad team in this game, but that ain't how it works," said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "It's going to come down to execution and it's going to come down to blocking them up front. It'll come down to a lot of competitive plays."

Big 12 Conference offenses have been derailed so far in bowl games, and it seems highly unlikely that the Sooners can extend their streak of 60-pointers. OU might do well to score half that.

Oklahoma's priorities are to run the football aggressively and protect quarterback Sam Bradford. Florida's priorities are to stuff the Sooner run game and harass Bradford.

OU head coach Bob Stoops said a turnover-free offense is the key to his team's chances. OU ranks first nationally in turnover margin (plus-23; the Sooners lead the nation with just two lost fumbles), while Florida ranks second (plus-22; the Gator defense has 33 takeaways, including 24 interceptions).

"I think on offense, especially for us, we're going to have to take care of the football," Bradford said. "We're going to have to convert on third down. We can't get stopped on three-and-outs and put our defense back on the field without breaks. I think it's going to be the same thing that we've tried to keep (as) our goals on offense throughout the whole year."

If OU's offensive line can create running room and keep Bradford from getting hit, the Sooners will be hard to beat. Although Bradford won the Heisman because of his record-setting passing numbers, it's OU's rushing statistics that have blossomed since an October loss to Texas. In the seven games since, the Sooners have averaged 247 rushing yards per game.

"Our ability to run the ball helps our chances in every game," Wilson said.

But as tough at defending the pass as the Gators are, they may be even better at stopping the run. Florida allows just 105.3 rushing yards per game — 16th nationally and fourth in the Southeastern Conference, a league whose offenses are equipped for running the ball. If Florida can limit OU's first- and second-down rushing gains and hit Bradford from time to time, the Gators could be set.

"We're just going to take the whole front seven and get in the gaps," said linebacker Brandon Spikes, a Gator All-American. "It should go perfect. Right after the SEC (championship) game, we had a meeting and got right into it."

Florida players have suggested that their impressive team speed could overwhelm the OU offense. But another significant factor could be Wilson's no-huddle offense, which moves at a pace no defense is accustomed to.

"Everyone always talks about how hard it is just to match their tempo of the game," Strong said. "You can watch, you can see some defenses don't even get lined up. You can see one defensive guy is looking to the sideline and they snap the ball and they're running the ball right behind him. It's just critical."

OU's offense has put together a season for the ages. But if the Sooners walk out of Dolphin Stadium with 60 more points and another BCS defeat, it all will have been wasted.

"There's been a lot of great offenses," said OU center Jon Cooper, "but it's tough to put us with them because we haven't accomplished our goal."

Tale of the tape



A look at the per game averages for OU’s offense and Florida’s defense (national rankings in parentheses):

OU offense Florida defense
205.5 (18) Rushing yards 105.3 (15)
356.5 (3) Passing yards 174 (16)
562.8 (3) Total yards 279.3 (8)
54.0 (1) Scoring 12.8 (4)



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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6 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Big Harp, Florida (1/7/2009 9:35:17 AM)
BOOMER SOONER!!!
Report Comment
SoCal Fan, Broken Arrow (1/7/2009 10:25:29 AM)
Who really is No. 1? The Associated Press has OU No. 2 and Florida No. 1. Explain.
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (1/7/2009 10:27:05 AM)
SoCal...The BCS rankings have them switched. It's up to the voters and computers...so different voters in each poll went different ways, I assume.
Report Comment
SoCal Fan, Broken Arrow (1/7/2009 10:37:04 AM)
Thanks for clearing that up. Oklahoma is still No.1 to me. I just hope they prove it. Don't let me down Sooners.
Report Comment
mustachio, Ft. Sill (1/7/2009 1:02:35 PM)
Who is number one appears to depend entirely on whose story you're reading and which ranking (AP or BCS) they chose to use. Apparently, Oklahoma is the BCS #1 and Florida is the AP #1. I hope the Sooners play the way they're capable of playing tomorrow night and the rest should take care of itself. The unfortunate thing is that no matter the outcome, there will still be complaining and debating about who the true national champion is or should be.
Report Comment
Bird1, Tulsa (1/7/2009 1:22:51 PM)
Our Sooners had better play up to their capabilities if they want to win. Our guys say they're ready. We'll find out in about 30 hours.
 

 
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