Gators v. Cocks, Meyer v. Spurrier, Old v. New

The Ole Ball Coach (OBC) returns to the Swamp this Saturday to try and screw the Gators. Last time he tried that, he was cock blocked by 6-5 Jarvis Moss in the most important play in Florida Football history.

This time the game  overshadows the Spurrier plot line. The Gators cannot lose if they want to remain in the title picture. The OBC would like nothing more than to crush Meyer and the Gators' title hopes. Spurrier is arguably the greatest coach in Florida Football, but should Meyer and the Gator boys win another championship, the argument will swing in Meyer's favor. Meyer will then, inarguably, be the greatest coach in Florida Football.

The clash of the old and new will take place in the Swizzamp, scheduled for 3:30 on CBS. The Cocks come into the Swamp with the number one ranked defense in the SEC and 3rd nationally. The Gators have the number one ranked offense the SEC and the 7th ranked scoring offense in the country.

South Carolina's defense will be a challenge, no doubt. The Gators have yet to face such a defense this year. Or have they? Kentucky came into the Swamp with their defense ranked first in the SEC. The Gators put up 63 points on the kittens. Then, Vanderbilt had the highest ranked defense. The Gators put up 359 points in the first quarter.

I have seen no defense presently playing in college football that can stop the Gator offense. If you think I'm wrong, then tell me, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to present an argument otherwise. In the game's strongest defensive conference, the Gators have the country's most proven offense. The Gators are putting  points in the same fashion as the 1996 Gator National Champions. Against Georgia: 49, LSU: 51, Kentucky: 63, Arkansas: 38, Vanderbilt: 42.

The Timbow continues to impress, which is, er, impressive. He is more efficient as evidenced by his 1st half performance against the 'Dores. The Timbow is first in the SEC (you know, that conference where defenses actually try and cover people) in passing efficiency and 10th in the nation. He is ranked first, by far, in that same conference in points responsible for (18 per game!). His singular focus and intense preparation will likely show in spectacular fashion when He returns back to the Swamp. This is clearly a different Tebow than the one who could not gain one yard on 4th down against the Rebels. All his teammates report that the Timbow is having fun again and playing like the Heisman Timbow. One can see it in his running alone. He's putting his head down and running more on his instincts and less on designed plays. The return of the Timbow plow, defenses will look to spy or crash, leaving open the threat of the option pass or the play fake. 

Defenses cannot sleep on Florida's wide receivers who have been nothing short of perfect lately. 3 different receivers caught td passes from Timbow in the dominating win over Vandy. Harvin is scoring every other time he touches the ball. Hernandez has been consistent and reliable. Murphy has been cash-money. Deonte Thompson is now in the mix, having tasted the endzone and hungry to score again. Demps and Rainey are probably the most dangerous check-down, out-of-the-backfield threats in the game. And Carl Moore wants more people to know his name. 

It doesn't get much better than this, and if you ask the OBC, the Gators are better than the 2006 Champions. Spurrier also says this year's Cocks are better than the 2006 Cocks, but frankly, a cock's a cock, and in the Swamp, only Gators get out alive.

It may not get better than this for the offense, but the defense just keeps rising. The Gators are first in the SEC and 4th in the nation in scoring defense. The OBC has been raving about his Cock defense, ranked first in the SEC in total defense. That's nice, but where it counts: points scored, the Cocks have allowed more than the Gators, and both have faced the same opponents. The Gators have allowed only 107 points scored against them this season. The Cocks have allowed 156. Both have played Ole Miss, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Arkansas.

Finally, the play of the special teams has usually carried the day when these two meet up. Everyone remembers the Cock Block. Jarvis Moss, bless him. This matchup will likely have the same Cock stuffing, but with new names and faces. Demps, James, Dunlap, and the entire Gator punt coverage team will be plucking the Cock's feathers. If the Gators make any big play on special teams, then the game's over. The Swamp will go nuts. The stadium's collective memory will kick in and inspire the Gators to play harder. That's the beauty of big special teams play, the lingering motivating effects on the offense and defense.

Meyer's constitution disallows him to be second. He will use this game to make a statement. A statement that he, not the coach on the east sideline, is the greatest coach in Florida Football history.

Vegans got Gators as 22.5 point faves. 

Take it, they'll cover. 

I'll see you on Saturday, Gators.

(tip of the hat to the Jota for the pic)