We’ve come full circle, Gator Faithful.

Many of us remember in 1995 when we played another Big 12 team in our first National Championship game and were on the receiving end of a thrashing that we hadn’t had in quite some time. It demonstrated to many what it would take for the Gators to win a National Championship, which we did the following year. Now we are in our fourth National Championship contest in fourteen years. Clearly, we’ve developed the means to get the title game. What will separate us from everyone is else is completing the deal. Let’s talk some football…

This is probably the only game this season I don’t have to tell anyone about the opposition. It’s been all over the media and with the Heisman winner vs Hesiman winner sub-plot it has had enormous ongoing analysis and news coverage. I don’t need to tell you who the OU coach is or their QB. You already know that. So let’s talk about some other not-so-talked about factors in this game.

Oklahoma has an unprecedented offense and to those who think the Big-12 defense is soft, OU still put up amazing numbers and spread the ball to many different weapons. They are going to score. Yes, they have not faced a defense like ours, but they are still going to score. TCU is the closest they’ve come, but TCU didn’t have an offense like ours.

They have Sam Bradford, this year’s Heisman winner, at QB and a stable of receivers and tight ends to throw the ball to. Even with their top running back and Percy Harvin-like weapon, DeMarco Murray, is sitting out they still have a 1,000 yard rusher in the backfield. Simply, they have as much offensive firepower as we do. It really boils down to this simple equation, will the OU offense be able to score like they have on our defense. While I won’t discredit the OU defense, we should be able to score on them. Can OU outscore us in this contest? I don’t think so. In the end…and I’ve said this all season…it comes down to defense…well, also a bit of special teams.

Lost in this much-hyped contest is the fact that we are playing without two of our defensive stalwarts, Matt Patchan and Brandon Antwine. Think that’s not important? Think again. It’s been Patchan on the punt return teams that has resulted in so many blocked punts. Without both of them on the defensive line, that also means in OU’s hurry up offense, fewer players are available to fill the gaps. Our defense is good, but it’s not the same as it was two years ago with a bunch of guys ready for the NFL.

But that’s what so great about THIS game. You have what you have and this is the last game of the season. You are either prepared or you’re not. Champions don’t prepare to lose games. They come ready to win. I like Bob Stoops because those Gator teams in the 90′s resulted from his defenses, but I don’t see him out-coaching Urban Meyer in this game. I think the offenses are evenly matched and it will be our special teams play (look for a blocked punt) and our defense that make the difference. OU has given up a lot of points (too many points actually) this year on defense, which will help us, but our defense will need to be surging into their backfield the entire game, otherwise, we will be in a shootout. Maybe, just maybe, Brandon James will get his kickoff return for a TD, and of course, we get the ball to Percy Harvin. We will win because of special teams and defense and it doesn’t hurt to have the Tebow-nator. Florida 48 / Oklahoma 31.

Game time is 8pm EDT, 5pm PDT. I will just be returning home to Columbus after two weeks of travel to join my local Gator club where a Gator BCS National Championship is best served with Gators! ‘Nuff said.

Go Gators!

Patrick Hayden