An Early Look: Who Will Play In Pasadena For the BCS Championship

Before I hear it, I know, I know, there are still three more games until we know who will play in the BCS National Championship Game. But it’s never too early to start the speculations of who could end up there. So “Bear” with me and “Roll” through this article as I take you on a journey to Pasadena.

Oh and you‘ll understand the “Bear” and “Roll” later in the piece. Trust me.

Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State. Those are the remaining unbeaten teams in college football and their current ranking according to the BCS.

But which one of these teams will play the winner of the SEC championship game between Florida and Alabama? I mean one of them has to lose right?

So let’s look at the SEC matchup first, which will determine at least one of the participants in Pasadena for the national championship.

The quarterback matchup between Florida and Alabama obviously is number one on a lot of people’s list. For Florida, you have the senior Tim Tebow, Heisman trophy winner as a sophomore, two time national champion already in his five years at Florida.

He is already the all time rushing touchdown leader in SEC history surpassing Herschel Walker last weekend against Vanderbilt.

For Alabama, junior Greg McElroy, this year his first year as a starter for the Crimson Tide, and at times it shows. Though he is undefeated as a starter this season, he has shown weaknesses in games against South Carolina and Tennessee.

In his last three outings, McElroy has thrown two scores and has been picked off three times, failing to score an offensive touchdown against Tennessee at home in Tuscaloosa a few weeks back and surviving on two blocked field goals to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Keys to victory for both teams

Florida

Tebow got you here, ride him to Pasadena. He can will his team to victory and has proved it in the past.

Shut down Alabama’s running game with Mark Ingram (easier said than done). And force McElroy to beat you with his arm.

Alabama

Keep the Gators to throwing situations on third downs. Tebow will kill you on 3rd-and-6. He’s been doing so since he got to Florida.

Ride your workhorse in Mark Ingram. He will come into this game averaging well over 120 yards per game. Get him going so Florida has to stop him and take the pressure off of McElroy’s shoulders.

So, who is left for the winner in Pasadena…

Of course the sexy pick is the Texas Longhorns who sit in the cat bird’s seat at No. 3 in the BCS. They just have to wait and see the outcome of the Dec. 5 matchup between the top two teams to see who they will play. Not so fast Texas.

The Longhorns still have a little work to do themselves before they head to Pasadena and the Citi National Championship game. They do still have three games remaining, all be it against “lesser” opponents in Baylor and Kansas. But they still have their final game against in-state foe Texas A&M.

Colt McCoy and Texas are only 1-2 against the Aggies the last three seasons, so this is no gimme game for the Longhorns. And I am sure Mack Brown will not let the Longhorns forget that fact.

The Horned Frogs of TCU have their biggest test upcoming to remain one of the top five BCS teams this weekend when they take on 8-1 Utah. It is a home game for the Horned Frogs and if they can get past the Utes, it’s clear sailing their final two games with Wyoming (4-5) and New Mexico (0-9).

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?