Monday Morning Quarterback 12/01/08 December 1, 2008
Posted by Matt in Football.Tags: Alabama, Arkansas Razorbacks, BCS Title Game, Florida, NCAA football, Oklahoma, Texas
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So, the college football regular season has nearly reached its end, leaving fans with either a feeling of satisfaction or anger at the seeming technological whim of the BCS computer system. As of today, there are four teams remaining with a legitimate shot at a BCS Title Game berth – sorry Utah and Boise State fans, but until you leave your high school conferences and play with the big boys, your undefeated records are near-meaningless.
Contestant number one is sure to come from the SEC, where Alabama and Florida will meet this weekend in Atlanta to engage in a fierce battle that will decide their fates.
Alabama is the lone undefeated team among the top four, having won their twelve games with a hard-nosed, defense-minded style. With the possible exception of Georgia, the Crimson Tide have somehow avoided playing the nation’s toughest teams, and Florida will no doubt be the biggest challenge they have yet faced. So, the question must be asked, will Nick Saban’s squad be up to the task presented them by the powerful Gators?
With only a one point loss to Ole Miss blemishing their record, Florida may be the most dominant team in the country. While their schedule was not much tougher than Alabama’s, their eleven wins have come by an average of over 37 points per game, including a 30 point victory over LSU, 39 points over Georgia, and 30 over in-state rival Florida State. The Gators, though, have been hampered by injuries and may be without two defensive lineman and star receiver Percy Harvin.
The big controversy is not from the south, though, it is emitting straight from America’s Heartland and the incredible teams of the Big 12.
Texas finished their season at 11-1, with only a November 1 loss to Texas Tech blemishing their record. Despite beating Oklahoma by 10 points earlier in the season and destroying in-state rival Texas A&M on Saturday, the Longhorns found themselves being leapfrogged by Oklahoma in the BCS standings, dropping them from the second spot to the third and possibly losing a national title berth, despite winning.
Oklahoma, who also finished 11-1, now has the number two ranking and is on the inside track to the BCS title game, with only 19th ranked Missouri standing in their way. Their surge in the polls is no doubt due to their impressive wins over the past two weeks – a 65-21 shellacking of then-#2 Texas Tech and a 61-41 win over in-state rival Oklahoma State on Saturday.
My prediction: Florida vs. Oklahoma in the BCS Title Game.
Who do you think will make it?
Also, I have to give some props to my home-state Razorbacks and their upset win over LSU on Saturday. Even though they finished the season a disappointing 5-7, it was good to see QB Casey Dick finish his career with a win.
