Florida Gators
Win the Field Position/Special Teams Battle
This is one of the most overlooked match ups in this game and could be the deciding factor.
The Gators have had one of the best special team units in the nation this season, while Oklahoma has struggled on special teams giving up four touchdown returns. It is imperative to give Oklahoma's offense a long field to work.
We all know they can score in bunches and from anywhere on the field, but it gives the Gators defense a better chance to stop the Sooner offense. Gator punter Chas Henry has been a very good asset for the Gators.
The few times he has been called on to punt this season he has pinned opponents deep in our territory. Also, Henry was a signal caller in high school, so don't be surprised to see a potential fake punt pass which we haven't used yet this season.
On the other hand the Gators need to get good returns from one of the top return men in the nation Brandon James. Brandon James has tied the school record for returns in a season with three, but he hasn't been able to take one to the house since early in the season.
Urban Meyer does like to call punt blocks early and often and the Gators have tons of speed to get in to block the punt led by Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey.
Make Sam Bradford Uncomfortable
Bradford has only been sacked 11 times all season. The Gators are led by backup end Carlos Dunlap in sacks with nine. They have a three headed defensive-end tandem that is very good with sophomores Dunlap, Jermaine Cunningham, and Justin Trattou.
The middle of the line has taken some hits, but it has held on pretty good led by Lawrence Marsh, Terron Sanders, and Jay Howard. A key guy in this game could be tackle Torry Davis. He has played pretty good lately and has all the talent in the world.
Even if they aren't sacking Bradford, they will need to get some hurries, quarterback hits, and a hand in up to try to deflect some passes.
This doesn't count just getting pressure on Bradford, defensive coordinator Charlie Strong is going to have to dial up a good mix of man to man and zone to try to fluster Bradford and of course the secondary is going to have to make some plays jumping routes and deflecting passes. - BA
Oklahoma Sooners
Play it again, Sam
The man behind the machine that is the Oklahoma Sooners offense, Heisman Trophy winner deserves a spot in one of those Citizen Eco-Drive watches. He’s unstoppable.
The Sooners have scored no fewer than 35 points this season. They also had nine games of 52 or more points, and concluding their season on a five game tear, putting up 62, 66, 65, 61, and 62 points, the latter three against ranked Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and then Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game.
Their total of over 700 points scored makes them the most prolific offense in NCAA history. Bradford is the architect behind the Stoops juggernaut, but all of this will be a moot point if he’s unable to keep his scoring antics up against a stingy Florida defense that has forced 24 interceptions this season, only allows an incredible 12.8 points per game, and just allows 174.0 passing yards per game, their weakest defensive area.
Bradford needs to use his weapons, most namely Juaquin Iglesias, Jermaine Gresham, and Manuel Johnson, the top three wideouts he has, to their fullest…especially now since thousand-yard back DeMarco Murray has been ruled out. Bradford cannot afford to make mistakes, because Florida has a mighty prolific offense of their own, 18th in the nation in yards per game, and Tim Tebow will not hesitate to capitalize on any mistakes the redshirt sophomore makes.
We’ll see first hand, just what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
Kryptonite
Tim Tebow did not get invited to two straight Heisman ceremonies for nothing. A most efficient quarterback in his own right, Tebow has 27 touchdowns to an astounding two interceptions. Somehow, the Sooner defense needs to get in Tebow’s head and force him to make mistakes.
Though seemingly easier said than done…the key is pressure, and not giving one of the most accurate quarterbacks in recent memory time in the pocket.
Sophomores Jeremy Beal and Gerald McCoy need to step up big time on the national scale and get pressure on Tebow early and often, forcing him to make a rare mistake for Bradford and Co. to capitalize on.
Containing Percy Harvin is of the utmost importance too, because when Tebow isn’t running for yardage, Harvin is…to a much more elusive degree. He’s the lightning to Tebow’s thunder and he needs to be shut down. Find the Kryptonite for these Supermen, and the Sooners will bring home the hardware. - WP
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