UF vs USCe

Not very many big games this weekend, so I'm just going to go over the Gator game. In Brief.

South Carolina has a very good defense. Statistically it is the best the Gators will probably face all year. There is just one problem with it: it's been built the old fashioned way. Linebackers that weigh 270 pounds? 240 pound safeties? This defense was built to stop the traditional SEC offenses, and for the most part it has, but we all know Florida doesn't run a traditional SEC offense. Steve Spurrier of all people should know what happens when you try to defend an offense built on speed with an old school defense. The CBs are a little lighter and faster, headlined by the man with the best name in the SEC, Captain Munnerlyn, but it won't be enough to make up for deficiencies in speed elsewhere.

On offense South Carolina has been its usual inconsistent, turnover prone self. Their leading rusher averages just 3.5 yards per carry and the team averages 2.9 ypc overall. The passing game is a little more potent, but not by much. The Gators have had some problems keeping mobile QBs in check (See Chris Nickson's performance in the second half last week), so Stephen Garcia's legs might be a problem, but outside of that the Gator defense should have no problems keeping the South Carlolina offense in check. Add on to this the fact that the Gators have blocked five South Carolina kicks in the past three meetings, and it is not looking to good for the 'Cocks.

Since the Ole Miss loss, Urban Meyer has commented several times on his team's increased professionalism and attention to detail. If the Gators show up prepared for this game, and I believe they will, it should be no contest.

Florida 42, South Carolina 10.

BCS + 1 = The Answer

College football doesn't need a playoff. The FBS never has had a playoff, and a college football season would feel weird with one at the end. As many people have already pointed out, Iowa's win over Penn State would have been fairly insignificant if a playoff were in place. The only consequence of the loss for PSU would have been dropping a few spots in seeding. If you've followed college football for a while, you'd know that a large part of the appeal is that every game has a huge impact on the season. One loss? You still have a chance at the title but now you have to anxiously watch the teams in front of you and hope they lose. Two losses? You're done.

An eight (or god forbid sixteen) team playoff would mean a few teams could shrug off a loss or two as being no big deal. This is not good for the sport.

A plus one system (essentially a four team playoff) would have a playoff feel AND keep the importance of the regular season in tact. The most important aspect of a plus one is shifting the debate from who deserves to be #2 to who deserves to be #4. There have been a few seasons where more than two teams looked like they should have a shot at the title, but very rarely are there more than four teams who look worthy of a national title by the end of the season.