BCS National Championship
No. 1 Florida (12-1) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1)
When » Tonight, 8
Where » Dolphin Stadium, Miami
Line » Florida by 4
TV » FOX
Why you should watch » Because of the 34 bowl games, this one decides the national champion as determined by college coaches.
The Sooners tout Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford (4,464 yards, 48 TDs, 6 INTs), who leads an offense that scored an NCAA-record 702 points (54 ppg) and features receiver Juaquin Iglesias (69 catches, 1,092 yards, 10 TDs) and tight end Jermaine Gresham (58 catches, 888 yards, 12 TDs). But Oklahoma’s weakness is its defense, which allows 24.5 points per game and has yielded at least 28 six times. Enter 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow (3,079 total yards, 40 TDs) is trying to lead the Gators to their second national title in the past three years, as the Southeastern Conference champions are riding a nine-game winning streak. Florida is averaging more than 45 points and 442 yards per game and should be able to exploit the Sooners’ porous defense. But more importantly, Florida’s defense is the best Oklahoma has faced this season, as the Gators allow just 12.8 points per game and have yielded more than 20 points just twice this season. Baltimore Raven receiver and former Oklahoma standout Mark Clayton, however, believes his alma mater will get the job done. “It’s going to be a good game, but Oklahoma is going to come out on top,” he said. “We’re going to take care of those Gators. Not too much chomping, we are going to tape that mouth closed.”
Best fact about Oklahoma » The school features the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
Best fact about Florida » The Princeton Review named it the top “Party School” in its 2009 ranking.
Did you know this person went to Oklahoma » Jim Ross, better know as Good Ol’ J.R., who is the professional wrestling commentator for the WWE.
Did you know this person went to Florida » Paul Tibbets, Brigadier General who piloted the “Enola Gay” in World War II, which dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, to end the war. Point to Florida. There was nothing fake about Tibbets’ performance.
Game comes down to » The Big 12 is overrated. Texas barley survived against Ohio State, which couldn’t move the ball against USC or Penn State. But the Longhorns dropped 45 points on Oklahoma during a 10-point victory in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Oct. 11. Good luck against Tebow.
Which mascot wins a fight to the death » The Sooner Schooner is no match for Albert and Alberta — Florida’s alligators. Boomer and Sooner, the two white ponies that pull the wagon might put up a fight, along with their passengers, the RUF/NEKS. But in the end, Albert and Alberta chomp on pony-burgers as they ride off into the sunset.
Carey predicts » Florida, 41-28
Bimbo predicts » Oklahoma
Scoreboard » Bimbo leads Carey, 17-15
