Florida, Alabama, Or Texas: Who Ya Got?

We are getting down to crunch time, and we have what seems to be the Top 3 teams in College Football set for a showdown.

Florida, Alabama, and Texas have riddled the Top 5 (and now 3) for pretty much the entire season since day one.

What we have now is a championship race to see which two end up playing or it all.

Florida:

The odds on favorite has somewhat struggled through their championship repeat season.  What has clearly been demonstrated is that the loss of Harvin and Murphy to the Gator offense has shown to be tougher than most expected for them to overcome.

However, the Gators are doing what needs to be done and they are relying upon one of the best defenses in the country to carry them towards a second straight National Title.  Something that has never been done in Florida Gator history.

Alabama:

The loss of Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith have not been near as troubling for the Tide as many expected.  Self included. 

However, the early season success from the new starting QB in Greg McElroy has now turned into being one of the biggest question marks for the Tide as they enter the critical part of the College Football season.

Can their extraordinary defense pull them through?  Not many would doubt the brilliance of Nick Saban if they were to come out on top.

Texas:

Much like the previous two, Texas is also being carried by a solid stop unit in Austin.  When the offense hasn't clicked, the defense has stepped up, and more, to every challenge presented before them.

The real question facing the 'Horns is whether their somewhat 'weak' schedule will prepare them for the fury of a super solid SEC team.

What we are seeing from these three national powers is teams that are truly associated with incredible defensive play, and offenses doing just enough to get it done.

Florida has the gritty and gutsy leadership of Tebow on offense. 

Alabama has the tough and hard-charging running of Mark Ingram on offense.

Texas, like Florida, has the gritty and gutsy leadership of Colt on offense.

What truly separates any of these 'Hosses' in College Football?  Right now, it looks like anybody's guess. 

The next step is the remaining schedule.

Florida looks to have surpassed their biggest hurdles in LSU and Georgia, but they do have a pesky South Carolina team on the road along with a regular season finale with what could be a do or die Florida State team loaded with talent and needing a victory over Florida to become bowl eligible. 

Either way, if the Gators can (will) run through their final threesome of games undefeated, they will likely face the Tide in the SEC Championship game to get back to the BCS Championship Game.  No small task indeed.

Alabama on the other hand has been through a much tougher road than their conference brethren from Florida.  They have already defeated Virginia Tech, Mississippi, South Carolina, and LSU.  They also have in-state rival Auburn left in the classic rivalry that is the Iron Bowl.  The road game to Mississippi State also cannot be overlooked as the 'new face' Bulldogs gave Florida all they wanted, and then some, just a few short weeks ago.

Texas?   They play at Baylor, versus Kansas, and at Texas A&M.  Conventional wisdom says these are merely steps along the way towards their almost assured BCS Championship invitation.  Many said the same thing about Penn State last year this late into the season.

As stated before, Texas has not been overly dominating on offense.  Thus they could be susceptible to a team that could/can put up a bevy of points.  I wouldn't exactly count out Texas A&M from doing that just yet.  After all, the 'sorrisome' Aggies are averaging a league leading 477.56 ypg on offense, and are third in the league in scoring offense averaging over 35 ppg.   

Then again, like Florida and Alabama, the Horns have an extremely solid defense.  And what we have seen from these three great teams is some suffocating defenses that time and again have thrust their teams to the forefront.

When the 'Horns do get the Big 12 Championship game, they will likely be facing a Big 12 North team very short on at least one side of the ball.  Texas will be an overwhelming favorite and it would be hard to see them falling to a North team in the Big 12 Championship game.  (As hard as that is to type, is pure reality for a Husker Fan.)

What we see with these three teams is a trifecta of what could be considered the three best defenses in the entire country.  Looking at the recent NCAA statistical database, we find all three ranked in the top eight of the most meaningful statistical categories of Total Defense and Defensive Scoring.

And as they say, defense wins championships.

Who is the best of the best?  The ending of this College Football season should be a great ride, yet again.  Florida and Alabama looking to wage a head on war for supremacy in the SEC and Texas holding their end of the bargain in rolling through an undefeated season in the Big 12 to gain their respite for last year's 'mistake'. 

So, who ya got?  Florida, Alabama, or Texas?

It is crunch time, and these three bosses are on a head on course for College Football supremacy. 

Either way, it should be some great theater, and yet another great season in the grand game we love in College Football.

I'll take Alabama.   Who do you got?