Why the Florida Gators Will Beat the Oklahoma Sooners

2. Florida Defense- Earlier this week, a particular Oklahoma defensive back said that Tebow would be the fourth best QB in the Big XII, behind Bradford, McCoy, and Harrell.

What is funny is, Florida's offense may be facing the 12th best defense they played all year. Besides Hawaii and the Citadel, you could argue that EVERY other defense the Gators played was better than the Sooners.

Not so for the Gator defense. The Sooners will be facing one of the best-ranked defenses in the entire country, and certainly one of the best in the defensively dominated SEC. Besides the loss to Ole Miss, the Gator D has not allowed more than 21 points all season.

Although it is unknown how they will shape up against an offense as fast, explosive, and efficient as the Sooners, it is without a doubt that everyone knows the Sooners will be facing their toughest task yet in the Florida D.

3. Urban Meyer takes special pride in his special teams. As most already know, Meyer treats the special team players with privileges that most other football coaches give to first team offensive and defensive players.

The BEST players on the Gator roster play on the special teams, and the competition is fierce for a location on that squad. The Sooners will be very aware of the quality of the Gators special team play, but it will be difficult to script in practice for the speed and skill that they will actually face on kick-offs, punts and returns.

One or two mistakes in this facet of the game, and the Sooner hopes of a second title under Stoops are shot.

In what many will call a match up for the ages of coaching wits, you have old Florida Defensive Coordinator Bob Stoops vs. new Head Coach Urban Meyer. I would put my money on Meyer. As compiled by NBC's John Walters, "[s]ince 2004 Meyer has performed the following feats:

Became the first coach to lead a non-BCS school (Utah) to a BCS bowl (Fiesta). For good measure Meyer’s Utes won that game, capping off an undefeated 12-0 season.
Led Florida to a national championship.
Coached the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
Compiled a 55-9 record.
Compiled a 31-4 record in games played inside the state of Florida, included being unbeaten against in-state schools.
Won two SEC championships."

Further, Meyer is unbeaten in BCS bowl games. Unbeaten.

Bob Stoops, meanwhile, has not got the best big game resume. Although incredibly good in the Big XII regular season (I think winning at least 11 games in eight of his 10 seasons in Norman) and the Big XII title game (6-1), he is awful in BCS games, having lost the last four:

- 2003 - Loss to LSU
- 2004 - Loss to USC (the year that Auburn went undefeated, and likely should have had the shot at USC instead of Oklahoma)
- 2006 - Loss to Boise State, in a CLASSIC
- 2007 - Loss to West Virginia in a blowout

When laid out, it looks like Meyer has the edge over Stoops in big games.

The dominant nature of the Florida Gators this season was marred by a midseason letdown to the Ole Miss rebels. At the end of the season, we realize that Houston Nutt had a pretty damn good squad, who throttled one of the Big XII's best teams, and beat several other good SEC teams.

The Sooners have played incredibly well, but came up short defensively in their lone loss to Texas, and looked suspect on defense at times throughout the season.

Defense, they say, wins championships. The Gators defense is significantly better than the Sooners.
Special Teams, they say, win football games. The Gators special teams are significantly better than the Sooners.

Special players win games. Comparing Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, and although I think they are both incredible football players, I will take Tebow with the game on his shoulders over Bradford.

And finally, in this coaching duel, I take Meyer over Stoops. Meyer has better proven experience in these big games. With rumors of Stoops leaving OU for the Broncos, and past failures on the big stage, I think Big Game Bob will not show up once again.