NCAA Endzone

Ohio State (12-0) vs. Florida (12-1)

The Buckeyes finished the 2006 regular season as the clear-cut No. 1 team in the country and can earn a second national title under Jim Tressel with one more victory.

QB Troy Smith has been far and away the best player in college football this season. He can still beat you with his feet but Smith has done most of his damage via the air to his outstanding corps of receivers, which includes speedy Ted Ginn Jr., always reliable Anthony Gonzalez, tall, blossoming sophomore Brian Robiskie and hybrid WR/TE Roy Hall.

Tressel still likes to keep the offense balanced, which is easy to do with RBs Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells on the roster. Pittman isn’t flashy but he’s a tough north-south runner. Wells, on the other hand, is an emerging star with better size and straight-line speed.

The Buckeyes defied odds by improving on defense in 2006 despite replacing nine starters – six of whom were NFL draft picks – from last season’s outstanding unit. DT Quinn Pitcock sets the tone up front, while James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman have developed into big-time playmakers as first-year starters. It also helps to have a cornerback in Malcolm Jenkins who can take away one-third of the field in man-to-man coverage – and he’s just a sophomore.

Urban Meyer is an offensive coach but Florida is playing in the BCS national championship thanks to the strength of its defense. Despite DT Marcus Thomas being kicked off the team, the Gators are loaded along the defensive front seven. Ray McDonald moved inside to fill Thomas’ vacated spot and has become a disruptive force.

Meanwhile, DEs Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey continue bring the heat off the edges, and there aren’t many linebacker tandems better than MLB Brandon Siler and WLB Earl Everett. The Gators lack ideal depth at cornerback but Ryan Smith has eight interceptions at one cornerback spot and Reggie Nelson has six picks at safety.

The Gators’ spread attack on offense can put pressure on opposing defensive secondaries, especially considering the wealth of talent at wide receiver with Dallas Baker, Andre Caldwell, Percy Harvin and Jemalle Cornelius. However, their run game is far from overwhelming. The extra time off could help heal nicked starting RB DeShawn Wynn, but the Gators can’t count on the inconsistent senior.

Finally, the biggest X factor with Florida is its quarterback position. While senior Chris Leak has great career passing numbers and has experienced several shining moments this fall, he also has a history of forcing throws under pressure. True freshman Tim Tebow continues to find success as a running quarterback who will replace Leak on five to 10 short-yardage and goal-line occasions throughout the course of a game.

Prediction: Ohio State has seen only one defense as talented as Florida, and the Buckeyes riddled Michigan for 42 points. The Gators’ pass-rush lost some of its bite when coach Urban Meyer threw Marcus Thomas off the team but the Gators still finished the season allowing only 13.5 points per game. Florida’s offense is unusual in that the best playmakers – Dallas Baker, Andre Caldwell, Jemalle Cornelius and freshman Percy Harvin – are on the perimeter. That’s a nice way of saying that the Gators don’t have a dangerous running game. The Buckeyes’ defense is balanced and talented from line to safety. In the end, Smith and company haven’t been slowed down all year and won’t be in this game either. Ohio State wins 30-14.