2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game Predictions

Miami, Florida, is the site of two BCS college bowl games this year, but most avid fans will argue that there is only one game of importance and interest: The Oklahoma Sooners will square off against the Florida Gators in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game. This game will provide sixty minutes of non-stop offense and average defense from both teams.

The key match up that fans and analysts will be discussing is between the quarterbacks. This match up features the Heisman Trophy winners of the past two years, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow.

On paper Sam Bradford has more impressive statistics than Tim Tebow. However, Tebow exemplifies all that is great about college football. He is a tremendous quarterback on and off the field. He is also a man of faith and when he is not schooling the opposing team on the football field, he is schooling inmates in prisons and foreign countries about the value of having faith in a higher power. He will probably be a starter in the NFL, but he will also end his college football career a champion regardless of this game's outcome. During the 2008 season, Tim Tebow completed 174 out of 268 pass attempts for a 64.9 completion percentage. He threw for 2,515 yards and threw 28 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He not only throws the ball with great accuracy, he is agile in the pocket, not afraid to run, and willing to take on opposing linebackers. He ran for 564 yards and rushed for twelve touchdowns. When I think of Tim Tebow, I think of a passionate leader of a team who makes everyone around him better. This football game will be a close one going into the fourth quarter and he will lead this team to victory late in the fourth quarter.

Despite my personal liking of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford is also a great quarterback. He has very few critics as his stats are very impressive. Bradford completed 302 passes out of 442 pass attempts for a 68.3 completion percentage. He threw for 4,464 yards and threw 48 touchdowns with six interceptions. Oklahoma players are very quick and talented, but they lack the recent experience of big games. Bradford is more of a pocket passer, and look for the defensive lineman to get to him early and ruin his confidence.

As with any team, the quarterback alone cannot bring a victory. Championship teams need strong running backs and talented receivers. Oklahoma has much better running backs than Florida. Chris Brown and Demarco Murray rushed for over 1,000 yards each for the Sooners. The pair of backs rushed for 34 touchdowns combined. Mossis Madu is very good on third downs and short yardage situations. Chris Brown knows how to find the smallest of holes and once he gets through the hole, he can accelerate and avoid tacklers. Look for both of the star running backs to each get ten to fifteen carries.

Although the Florida running backs are good, the Florida offense is all centered around Tebow. Percy Harvin is the feature back in the Florida offense. His health has been questionable in the last few games. If he is completely healthy by game time, look for him to have about 15 carries for eighty yards and one touchdown. Chris Rainey and Jeffery Demps also had solid seasons for the Gator backfield. They are not as explosive and powerful as the Oklahoma backs, but the wide receivers for both teams are comparable.

Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow each have three good receivers they can depend on; Jauquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, and Jermaine Gresham for Oklahoma and Louis Murphy, Emmanuel Moody, and Percy Harvin (a running back) for Florida. Jauquin Iglesias has been amazing this year, seeming to catch anything thrown within four yards of him. Although technically not a receiver, Percy Harvin of Florida has great hands and speed and is the second leading receiver on the team behind Louis Murphy.

The defense and special teams are a wash. I expect this to be a high scoring game with each team compiling over 400 yards of offense.

Player Predictions:

Florida

Tim Tebow: 20/25 attempts for 275 yards 3TD, 1 int. He will also rush for the game winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak with just over two minutes to go in the game.

Percy Harvin: 15 carries, 80 yards and 1TD

Oklahoma

Sam Bradford: 28/37 attempts for 335 yds, 3TD, and 2 Int. His interception in the 4th quarter will start the Gators on their game winning drive.

Chris Brown: 18 carries, 120 yards and 1TD

Game Prediction:

Florida: 42 Oklahoma: 35