Florida vs. Oklahoma | inspin's Blog

Gators -3 1/2 vs. Sooners

Controversy and the BCS seem to go together like cookies and milk. Once again there is an outcry over Oklahoma getting the nod with an identical record as Texas, even though the Longhorns beat the Sooners. If head-to-head matchups do not count, why bother playing the games is the sentiment of many college football fans, particular located around Austin, Texas.

But the game is what it is and it is still a terrific matchup of traditional college football powers meeting for the first time ever as Florida meets up with Oklahoma in Miami on Thursday, January 6th.

Two Heisman Trophy winners will match up as this year's winner Sam Bradford will take on runner-up and last year's winner Tim Tebow. Bradford was tops in the country with 48 touchdown passes against only six picks. Tebow was almost equally as solid with 2515 yards, 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also rushed for 12 scores on the ground.

The Gators will be attempting to win their second title in three seasons and third overall title, while the Sooners are looking for their eight national title and first since 2000. The team made the championship game in 2004 and 2005, losing both times.

The controversy surrounding Oklahoma's placement in this game takes a hit when it is shown that the Sooners (12-1) scored 58 points or more in each of its last six games, including posting 65 on the former number two team in the nation, Texas Tech. That stretch of offensive fireworks has not been seen since Tulsa had a similar run in 1919.

Florida (12-1) weathered an early head-scratching loss to Ole Miss to win their final nine games and dispatched number one and undefeated Alabama in the SEC championship game.

For the Sooners to claim victory, they will have to weather the Gators homefield advantage. While roughly 330 miles separates Gaineville and Dolphins Stadium, with all apologies to the Seminoles and Hurricanes, Florida is Gatorcountry, at least for this past decade. Making more comforting surroundings is the fact that the Gators have 13 players from or near Miami. A year ago, Ohio State was unable to weather the home-state advantage LSU held in the Superdome, roughly 76 miles from Baton Rouge.

InSpin.com