Sugar Bowl Bound: Florida vs Cincinnati

What happens if Alabama wins? Well, we know for sure now.  After talking fellow writer Jim down off the ledge this morning, we can move on and look at what exactly happened now that the Florida Gators lost.  Here’s the thing, we didn’t just lose, we got our ass handed to us.  That was the biggest ass kicking since Chris Brown met Rhianna.

There was one point during the game where it looked like we were going to get back into and Tim Tebow drove us down the field within 10 yards of scoring and threw an INT to give Bama the ball back.  Bama’s the best team we’ve faced all season and they exploited our defense like we were a second hand ACC team.

Was the absence of Carlos Dunlap that big of a factor?  It definitely didn’t help, that’s for sure.  I’m not going to be one of those fans that says we would have won with Carlos Dunlap.  One things for certain though, Alabama was able to change up how they blocked our rushes with his absence.

It looked like Florida abandoned the run before we even attempted it.  We ran a total of 14 times and Tim Tebow was responsible for 10 of these attempts.  Why all of a sudden out of the blue are we back to the pass attack when the run has worked so well for us all season?  There have been some major inconsistencies with our offense this year and I don’t think there’s anyone to blame but Steve Addazio.  There have been reports that Charlie Strong will be going to Louisville and that Steve Addazio will be going with him.  I hope this to be true.  I will hate to lose Charlie but he deserves it and it will get Steve Addazio out of his position.

In either case, Cincinnati’s 4th quarter comeback against Pittsburgh has them likely to face Florida in the Sugar Bowl.  This is Florida’s chance to prove these teams in weak conferences are only undefeated because they don’t play that hard of a schedule.  We are in the same spot Alabama was last year after losing in the SEC Championship game and then going to face an undefeated team in the Sugar Bowl.  Let’s hope we don’t blow it like they did against Utah.

It’s not for sure yet on whether Dunlap will return for the bowl game or not yet but we will keep you updated.  If any Florida players feel the urge to go out drinking, please email or call me and I will pick you up!

SEC Championship Game Preview: Florida vs Alabama

The game this Saturday for the SEC Championship might as well be for the National Championship. That’s right I said it! The #1 Florida Gators are set to take on the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday at 4:00 PM on CBS.  The second time (happened last year as well) these two will meet in Atlanta with undefeated records and a National Championship on the line.

Who will be victorious?  Who will march on for a shot?  Well the Florida Gators of course.  Lane Kiffin wouldn’t have you think so though:

“It’s kind of hard to call,” Kiffin said Tuesday in an interview on WNML-AM in Knoxville. “There’s a bunch of great players on both teams. Florida has so much speed. I think you’ll see Alabama will outscheme Florida, and Florida has given up 28 sacks this year when a bunch of guys come free. But the problem is Superman (quarterback Tim Tebow) is back there. It comes down to can you tackle him.

“It will be a real interesting matchup. Florida has better players, and Alabama has better coaches, so we’ll see.”

Better coaches eh? Some big ‘ole balls on ya boy to be talking about better coaching.  Since when did you become an expert on who a better coach is? Lane, you should take some notes from your dad and coach with class. But I digress…

Florida has a rare opportunity to go wire to wire and this streak will be put on the line this Saturday against Bama.  Last year the game started in Bama’s favor but with some halftime adjustments from Meyer, the Gators went on to win the SEC Championship game as well as the National Championship.

Even with Carlos Dunlap suspended, the Florida Gator defense is going to be tough to score points on. With our lack of offensive production as a whole this year, 24 points would probably beat us… lucky for us that hasn’t been accomplished this year. Alabama will look to bring a heavy rush as I’m sure they’ve seen our issues with our offensive line this year and look to continue the high sack average that the Gators have allowed.  The keys to the game will be getting protection when passing, being able to run the ball to control the tempo and having our defensive make Mark Ingram and Julio Jones non factors.

In either case, whether Florida comes out the victor or not, the winner of this game will be the favorite in the National Championship game and rightfully so.  Thus why I say that this game might as well be for the National Championship.  I wish there was a betting line on that.  Winner of SEC Championship Game – 240 Money Line.

Carlos Dunlap Suspended for Alabama Game

UPDATE: It’s now official.  Urban Meyer has suspended Carlos Dunlap for the SEC Championship game. His status for the BCS Bowl game is still up in the air for right now.

No it’s not official but it’s the only logical action that can happen.  After Dunlap Sr. spoke with Urban Meyer, he got the sense that the Florida Gators star defensive end would likely sit out for the SEC Championship game against Alabama:

“I got the sense that he won’t be able to play,” Dunlap said. “I asked him if there’s anything he can do — it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t ask — and he said he doesn’t know what he can do. We’re supposed to meet tonight.”

Despite the order of being released earlier (5 hours ago), Dunlap still sat in jail as of 2:25 PM.  According to Dunlap Sr, Carlos went out with teammates and was only 2 blocks away from his home when he fell asleep at the light… 2 BLOCKS!

“You think you’re in control and the next thing you know you’re in trouble,” said Dunlap Sr., a bailbondsman from Charleston, S.C. “I am dumbfounded right now. He’s always been so anti-drug, anti-drinking. But it’s not what you do, it’s how you respond to what you do.”

This could explain why he passed out.  He’s a lightweight when it comes to drinking and dabbling in it just a little must have made him trashed and just pass out at the stop light (we are assuming it was red which is why he stopped). Dunlap Sr says his son feels terrible and wants to make it up to his teammates in any way he can… hopefully by playing.

Don’t hold your breath Carlos… there’s no way that your’e going to be able to play this game if convicted of a DUI.  The only way you’ll play is if the “investigation is pending”.