Fierce And Nerdy: The BCS Championship Game – Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators

This is a cross-post of an article I wrote for FierceAndNerdy.com, for whom I will be writing a periodic blogumn. It’s actually an expansion and elaboration of my comments on the title square-off put forth in Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups, worth revisiting here on game day.

The first pseudo major sports championship of the year takes place Thursday night in Miami as the 12-1 and top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners face off against the 12-1 and second-ranked Florida Gators in the BCS National Championship game. I say pseudo because college football will never have a true national champion until a playoff system is put into place. The money-grubbing and gross inequities inherent to the Bowl Championship Series system will always result in college football’s champion being largely determined by polls, not on the field.

But, like the BCS or not (if you couldn’t already tell, I don’t)‚ it did result in a legitimate matchup for the so-called title game this season. Sure, other teams (Texas, USC and especially undefeated Utah) had strong arguments why they should be in the BCS Championship game, but those same discussions would exist regardless of which teams were playing–that’s the problem. From an outside observers standpoint, Oklahoma vs. Florida is a completely legitimate matchup, though I personally maintain Utah’s undefeated season warranted them the nod.

The game does have it all: the champion teams from the top two conferences, two high-powered offenses, and the last two Heisman Trophy Winners in quarterbacks Tim Tebow (2007) and Sam Bradford (2008). This game will undoubtedly be a shoot-out; if you like offensive explosions, this one is for you! Unfortunately for the Sooners, Oklahoma star running back DeMarco Murray will miss the game with a hamstring injury. Fortunately for coach Bob Stoops, that injury shouldn’t slow down his team too much; Murray is actually one of two backs for Oklahoma with over 1,000 yards (the other, Chris Brown, leads the Sooners with 1,010 yards). Even with such a running threat, the Sooners’ success will ride on Bradford’s arm. And with perhaps the best offensive line in the country, the Oklahoma quarterback should have all day to throw.

Florida must find a way to slow down Oklahoma’s offense to wrap up their second title in three years. Unfortunately for the Gators, their defense is not quite the dominant force as that of the 2006 squad, although it has improved over the course of the season. On the other hand, the Gators offense is pretty potent in its own right, with the nation’s 11th-ranked running game and Tebow’s big play ability. Considering the injuries suffered by the Sooners’ defense, the Gators’s O should have ample opportunity to score and keep pace with Oklahoma.

In the end, I think this game will probably come down to just one or two plays, with the team making the least mistakes taking the crown. After two straight bowl disappointments, it’s time for the Sooners to achieve some redemption.

That having been said, I hope the AP throws egg on the face of the BCS once again and votes the Utah Utes a split of the national title in their poll. Unlikely, but not inconceivable.

• December 19, 2008 -- Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (2)
• December 18, 2008 -- P.K.’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (1)
• January 9, 2009 -- 2008-2009 College Football Wrap-Up (0)
• December 9, 2008 -- Football Coaches Have A Sense of Humor (0)
• January 6, 2009 -- Running Up the Score (6)