5* - Florida Gators (+7?)
The Gator?s defense is simply not getting enough credit here. This year they held the Volunteers to -11 yards rushing (worst in Fulmers? 13 year tenure), limited LSU?s JaMarcus Russell to one of his worst passing days ever (24 of 41, 58.5%) and allowed only 73 yards rushing by Arky?s Darren McFadden (another career worst). While Florida did lose a single game at Auburn, they have simply played against better competition whose combine record in 2006 was 94-50 (66%) as opposed to the Buckeye opponents who went just 76-63 (54.7%).
What has Ohio State actually done besides beating Texas with a freshman quarterback in his second start and squeaking by Michigan at The Horseshoe? I think we all witnessed just how tough Michigan was during the Rose Bowl game so I am not particularly impressed by either of those wins. If Michigan can score 39 against OSU on in Columbus, what do you think Florida is going to do? The Buckeyes did not play Wisconsin this year and the entire Big 10 schedule was very watered down compared with most seasons. On the road in 2006, Ohio State played only one team that finished with a winning record so I don?t see that they have even been tested. That is certainly something that you can not say about Florida as they faced 10 bowl bound teams and four who finished in the to 17 in the BCS Poll.
Meyer has worked his magic at Florida in just two seasons after doing it in the same time frame at Utah. I think he opens up the playbook here and maybe pulls out an upset which is becoming the norm in the National Championship game. Too many points here for a team with this kind of speed and the best defense the Bucks will have seen all year.
The Gator?s defense is simply not getting enough credit here. This year they held the Volunteers to -11 yards rushing (worst in Fulmers? 13 year tenure), limited LSU?s JaMarcus Russell to one of his worst passing days ever (24 of 41, 58.5%) and allowed only 73 yards rushing by Arky?s Darren McFadden (another career worst). While Florida did lose a single game at Auburn, they have simply played against better competition whose combine record in 2006 was 94-50 (66%) as opposed to the Buckeye opponents who went just 76-63 (54.7%).
What has Ohio State actually done besides beating Texas with a freshman quarterback in his second start and squeaking by Michigan at The Horseshoe? I think we all witnessed just how tough Michigan was during the Rose Bowl game so I am not particularly impressed by either of those wins. If Michigan can score 39 against OSU on in Columbus, what do you think Florida is going to do? The Buckeyes did not play Wisconsin this year and the entire Big 10 schedule was very watered down compared with most seasons. On the road in 2006, Ohio State played only one team that finished with a winning record so I don?t see that they have even been tested. That is certainly something that you can not say about Florida as they faced 10 bowl bound teams and four who finished in the to 17 in the BCS Poll.
Meyer has worked his magic at Florida in just two seasons after doing it in the same time frame at Utah. I think he opens up the playbook here and maybe pulls out an upset which is becoming the norm in the National Championship game. Too many points here for a team with this kind of speed and the best defense the Bucks will have seen all year.
