Gators, Sooners have '1' thing on their minds

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Pick your theme.

Almost unprecedented offensive firepower.

Heisman Trophy winners past and present.

Southeastern Conference vs. Big 12 challenge.

When the college football season comes to an end Thursday night with the Bowl Championship Series title game between top-ranked Florida and No. 2 Oklahoma in Miami, several questions will be answered as the powers that be again attempt to find the best team in the nation.

Oh, you might hear arguments from Southern Cal fans, who will point to the destructive nature of the Trojans' 38-24 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. But USC - like Florida and Oklahoma - has a loss on its record, and without a playoff system to settle the matter on the field, beauty is in the eyes of the computers and poll voters, who deemed that Oklahoma and Florida were more worthy of title consideration.

Each team arrived here with impressive credentials. Florida (12-1) has won nine straight games and has averaged 45.2 points overall, while winning by an average of 32.2 points per game.

Oklahoma enters with an NCAA-record 702 points, scoring at least 60 in each of its last five games.

Florida also has impressive defensive statistics, including 12 interceptions against top-25 teams, fourth in the nation in scoring defense (12.8), and eighth in total defense (279.3 yards per game).

The Gators' first-team defense has not allowed a touchdown in five of its last seven games, has allowed only four first-half touchdowns all season, and has outscored opponents, 321-51, in the first half.

Yet the Gators recognize danger when they see it. "We're going to give up some points, but we can't give up 60," Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said yesterday.

Oklahoma has been scary good the last five games. Led by Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford, the Sooners (12-1) have rolled over Nebraska (62-28), Texas A&M (66-28), Texas Tech (65-21), Oklahoma State (61-41), and Missouri (62-21).

"The real key is not the tempo, it's the execution" said Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, "because if you don't execute and go three and out, there is no drive."

Florida shook off a 31-30 loss to Mississippi Sept. 27 and rolled to nine straight victories, including a 31-20, come-from-behind decision over No. 1 and previously unbeaten Alabama in the SEC title game.

With last season's Heisman winner, quarterback Tim Tebow, carrying the offense, the Gators are in search of their second national championship in three years.

Both teams are hurting a bit. Oklahoma will be without running back DeMarco Murray, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Big 12 title game victory over Missouri.

Florida hopes to have running back Percy Harvin, who has been bothered by a sprained right ankle for several weeks. "He's playing," said coach Urban Meyer. "Unless there is a setback in practice, he's good."

Despite USC's impressive victory over Penn State, and Utah's upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and its status as the last unbeaten Bowl Subdivision team, the debate about who's No. 1 is really down to two teams, Florida and Oklahoma.

If another team has a legitimate claim, it's Texas, which will face Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl tomorrow night. The Longhorns beat Oklahoma by 10 points at a neutral site in October and could make a claim for half of the national championship (the Associated Press writers' title) if they beat Ohio State in convincing fashion, and Oklahoma narrowly beats Florida.

The setup for Florida-Oklahoma, however, is too good. Two of the hottest teams in college football, loaded with offensive star power, coached by two of the marquee coaches in the game in Meyer and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops.

In addition to finding a way to deal with the Gators, Stoops also has had to contend with rumors he could be in the mix for the Denver Broncos' head coaching job, as he is friendly with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.

So it went yesterday as another BCS championship week commenced.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.