You wouldn't know it by the BCS standings, where the Gators are ranked fifth after 10 weeks of play, but Florida is the nation's best team. Since losing to Mississippi at home in late September, the Gators have been on an unmerciful tear, ritually beating Arkansas (38-7), LSU (51-21), Kentucky (63-5) and Georgia (49-10).I realize college football convention says that the undefeated teams are the nation's best -- hello, Alabama and Penn State -- but if you're talking about what team is actually the best in the country right now, the Gators are that team.
Just as Georgia found its groove last year after beating Vanderbilt and then staging that odd celebration in the end zone against Florida, the Gators found their groove after losing to Mississippi. After the game, quarterback Tim Tebow tearfully and emotionally met the media in a bizarre scene, vowing to right the ship and work harder than any other team. It was uncomfortable and not the most inspiring, but holy cow has it worked.
Even in this anything goes age there are some things you can count on in college football. People are going to grouse about the polls. Notre Dame is going to receive inordinate attention. The tailgating will be forever awesome. And points will be hard to come by in SEC play.
All of which makes Florida's current play so amazing. To date, the Gators' lowest point total in conference play is 30 against Ole Miss. They scored seven -- seven (!) -- touchdowns against Georgia a week after thrashing Kentucky, the SEC's best statistical defense at the time, for 63 points. Lest we forget, they also rained 51 points on defending national champs LSU, long a powerful defensive squad.
The defense, long rumored to be Florida's Achilles' heel these past two seasons, has finally arrived allowing just over 10 points per game over the last four games. It took a season-and-a-half under Tim Tebow, but Florida has finally become a complete team and is playing great football on both sides and special teams. Overall, in eight games, Florida has allowed more than 10 points but twice.
The effort against Georgia was particularly notable. At times, Georgia moved against the Gators' defense with ease, but when the field got smaller Florida snapped into action, picking off Matt Stafford -- who we'll see in the NFL next year -- three times. Overall, Georgia was held under 400 yards and stopped moving the ball early in the third quarter. It was rope-a-dope football played to perfection, taking a page from USC's defensive playbook.
Yes, they do have that mark against them, a single loss against Ole Miss, but personally I've never been one to disqualify teams for just one loss. I'm more interested in their body of work particularly how they've played in recent games. Its frustrating to the by-the-books college football crowd but if I had a vote I'd enthusiastically cast it for Florida over other noteworthies with slightly superior records like Alabama, Penn State and Texas Tech.
Why shouldn't I? The Gators are better than them. All of this can change next week of course, but to at least this observer its obvious who should be No. 1.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-03-2008 @ 8:12PM
Kyle said...
Umm it says Gators not Long Horns!!!!
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11-03-2008 @ 12:22PM
Dave said...
I agree that the Gators are the best team today. The Gators would be favored in Vegas -and thats where the real smart sports people exist- over every team in the nation except USC. That number would be even or either team by one on a neutral field. Gators and USC favored over any other team. Gators are the best offense in the nation and now have a top defense. Tebow is back after his "down year" start... look at his numbers. He, not the big 12 QB's, runs HIS system better than any QB. What do you think McCoy or Harrel or fatty Chase Daniel would do on their back all day? Stafford is clear #1 pick in the NFL for QB's and he was killed all day. Give me a plus one play off so UF and USC can play after they wax a Penn St or Big 12 team.
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11-03-2008 @ 12:38PM
Esther said...
It is about time that someone other than me and the rest of the Gator Nation recognizes Florida's talent and ability. You can say that I'm biased, but I've watched a lot of football and I have to tell you, no defense in the country is as impressive as Florida's. I have not seen any other team force interceptions the way the Gators have been doing. Since the loss against Ole Miss, Florida has forced every team to play badly. And since the emergence of Rainey and Dempse--the offense has just exploded. If Florida continues on this pace and beats Alabama in the SEC championship game in the same fashion that it's beaten UGA and LSU, then I believe Florida should not be ranked less than 2 in the BCS. If Penn remains undefeated, I think Florida should skip over them for two reasons. Penn has played only one decent team in Ohio State and they do not play a championship game. By the end of it all, Florida will have played 15 games vs. Penn State only playing 13. That right there gives Florida 2 extra games to lose--why isn't anyone bringing this fact up? If Florida wins out, including the SEC championship, they will be 14-1 whereas Penn will be 13-0 if they stay undefeated. Their percentage will be better of course, but Florida will have won more games than Penn in a far stronger conference--which to me is more impressive than Penn going undefeated when the only ranked team theyv'e beaten is OSU. It's not just the fact that Penn's SOS ranking will be lower than Florida's but the fact that Florida will play two extra games, I think is a big factor that no one seems to want to talk about.
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11-03-2008 @ 12:42PM
Shannon said...
Thanks for the pat on the back, but we already know who is the best. They are consistently proving it where it needs to be proven. ON the field. I hope they do make it to the National GAME, but first they need to take care of SEC business..more importantly Alabama needs a wake up call, and if the Gators play them, they are surely in for one. Based on strength of schedule, should Florida be lucky enough to then go after, say,Penn State in the national game, I believe Penn State will enjoy the same fate as the ever over-rated, Ohio State.
Can't wait.
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11-03-2008 @ 12:52PM
arthur said...
Florida has run up the score against mediocre SEC teams this year
and is certainly far from the best team in the country. Texas has played a murderous four game streak of teams ranked in the top 13 in the country and came within a few seconds of beating them all. That is a mark of a great team. Florida has beaten only 2 mid teens teams and lost to an unranked opponent at home. Not even a close comparison. Texas Tech still must beat Ok State and Oklahoma which will be remarkable if they can accomplish it; however, if they don't then Texas is by the far best one loss team in the country this year and deserves to play Penn State for the national championship. A playoff of course would be ideal and settle everything, but it is not happening. By the way I am not from Texas or a Texas fan.
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11-06-2008 @ 10:30PM
Blank said...
but the teams in the big 12 have no defense what so ever that is why their Qbs look so good and a team has to score more than 40 to win a game
11-08-2008 @ 2:16PM
Stephen said...
You just made the case I have been making. The Big 12 has had 5 teams in the top 10 during the season and they all play each other. Penn State only played a good Ohio State team.
Alabama only played Ga that was in the top 10 and has now faded. You made the FL point. So Al plays FL big deal neither played a tough schudule.
11-03-2008 @ 12:54PM
caj said...
Gators are the best team in the nation?
Was there ever any doubt?
And let's put Tebow back to the front of the Heisman chase while we're at it.
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11-03-2008 @ 2:16PM
M1EK said...
How on earth does the best team in the country lay such an egg at HOME against Ole Miss?
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11-03-2008 @ 3:51PM
Jack Keener said...
Any team in the SEC can win on a given day if they do things right and the other team makes mistakes. All of the SEC teams have play makers and great athletes that, if the breaks fall just right, can beat the top teams. I dont think that can be said in all the major confrences.
11-04-2008 @ 9:07AM
M1EK said...
That's the same exact thing people claim in every major conference, and it's a load of crap. Ole Miss is a mediocre team - equivalent in Sagarin to some Big Ten teams Penn State handily beat.
11-03-2008 @ 1:45PM
Esther said...
Mediocre teams?? Since when were UGA and LSU mediocre? The Big 12 is a strong conference this year, but don't think for one minute that Texas Tech, Texas, OK State, Oklahoma or Missouri can easily beat LSU or UGA. I think you'd better have a more objective outlook before you go talking smack. I will also go to say that USC is better than any team in the Big 12 aside from maybe Texas. Florida may have lost to Ole Miss, but when you fumble a ball on the first play after receiving a kickoff twice in a row, then you deserve to lose. Florida has become a lot more dynamic since that game and if you'd actually watch a thing or two, you might know that. Florida changed in the 4th quarter against Arkansas and has not been the same since.
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11-03-2008 @ 10:19PM
jerry said...
the scenario goes as folloows. florida beats alabama in title game. texas tech will not go undefeated, forget them. florida will play penn state who hasn't beaten anyone except oho state who is at best a top tweny team. another massacre in the championship game...florida by 30 over penn state. trophy comes back to florida when it belongs...hail to the s,e.c.
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11-04-2008 @ 6:34AM
Steve said...
Florida lost at HOME to Ole Miss. A game in which they also were the beneficiary of several homer official calls and still lost. They may be the best team in America even with one loss and they will get their chances to prove it. Hello Alabama.
Reminds me of the 86 Miami Hurricanes. The media crowned college football team of the century. They lost the championship game in the Fiesta Bowl to none other than Penn State. The same Penn State that destroyed Oregon State. The team that beat Southern Cal. Most analysts say USC has the most talented players in the country....even with one loss !
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11-04-2008 @ 9:21AM
M1EK said...
http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/archives/000538.html
Ole Miss has no magical powers - they're actually less tough than the Oregon State team Penn State destroyed at home, according to Sagarin's best rankings.
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11-04-2008 @ 8:40PM
Terry Rains said...
I agree they are hotter than anyone right now, but ANY team can be had. If florida is to be beaten, it will take ball control, long timely drives, basically keep away. the less their offense is on the field the better. dont ever let them have the ball enough times to get a rythym....that will be a tough task..real tough!
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11-05-2008 @ 1:54AM
Brandon said...
Wait! how could they be #1 when they have a loss.. and let alone it was against mississippi if im right and they suck.if anything they are overrated
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11-07-2008 @ 10:10AM
Amanda said...
Please think before you write. They are not #1 according to the BCS. They are #5. But look at the 4 in front of them. Alabama-Gators will take them down in the SEC championship. Texas Tech-still has to play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. They are in trouble, I'm afraid. Penn State-they haven't even played anyone good except Ohio State. No wonder they're undefeated. Texas-the only one I'm worried about, personally. It's bullcrap though, that they are still in the top 5 after losing as we are nearing the end of the season. Whatever. Go Gators!
11-08-2008 @ 9:22AM
Brandon said...
Once again I must remind you they got beat by Mississippi!! You seemed to avoid that one.haha. I think Florida is great but not national title great. I'm not a vols fan, I happen to have always been a Texas Tech fan who beat #1 Texas by the way last week and is still undefeated. They still have alot of work but if Tech beats Oklahoma State and Oklahoma then they will be the ones playing for the national title.
11-04-2008 @ 10:05PM
RollTide55 said...
Still have to play the Tide; Bama has a better defense than Georgia, Ole Miss, and LSU. If Bama gets to the championship game, the Tebow direct snap and stagger forward will have to deal with Mount Cody and may not give Florida the easy yards... Bama has the most sophisticated and diciplined defence in the SEC since Gene Stallings, and that is really saying something! It will be a war but the Tide ROLLS the Gators in the SEC championship (should be the College Football Championship) game ... however, Tide must get by motivated LSU and Auburn (both of whom's seasons would be made by beating the Tide) before BCS championship against .......... TEXAS, who will struggle against the only REAL 3-4 in the nation with honest-to-God PRESS COVERAGE ala Spagnola, etc.....no way anyone is beating my Tide this year. Fight on, fight on, fight on, Men, remember the Rose bowl (ORANGE BOWL) we'll win then.......
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