Gregg Doyel's prediction
MIAMI -- Curtis Lofton had a heck of a Fiesta Bowl a year ago.
Ryan Reynolds had a heck of a season heading into the Cotton Bowl to face Texas three months ago.
Austin Box helped keep the Sooners out of those two bowl games this season.
Enter Mike Balogun?
If you're looking for one reason -- one single reason -- why Florida will win the BCS title game, check out Oklahoma at middle linebacker. Balogun will start at that spot, meaning essentially Bob Stoops will have to use a fourth stringer against some of the fastest college players ever. Not good.
Lofton, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-American, left early for the NFL after the 2007 season. His replacement, Reynolds, was having a fine season when he was injured in the Red River Shootout game against Texas. Reynolds' absence in the middle was a big reason why Colt McCoy was able to rally the Longhorns in the fourth quarter.
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Things were so unsettled for a while that safety Nic Harris started at middle linebacker against Kansas. Eventually Box rounded into form starting four games. Then the redshirt freshman sprained his knee in the regular-season finale against Oklahoma State. That leaves Balogun to start in the middle against the Gators. Box will play, however.
Nothing against the junior-college transfer from Lackawanna Community College, but this is not the time for Balogun to gain valuable experience. Maybe that's putting it the wrong way. Balogun, 25, is experienced. In fact, he is the oldest Sooner in 40 years. He didn't play his last two years of high school and took a construction job before enrolling in junior college.
Balogun and the rest of the Sooners will have to be on alert for Florida's jet sweeps, crossing patterns and, oh yes, some guy named Tebow putting his head down and bulling ahead for yardage.
Even if the Sooners somehow shore up a defense that gave up 359 yards and 24½ points per game, there is still the nagging question about their special teams. Oklahoma has given up four kickoff returns for touchdowns and is facing All-American returner Brandon James.
If you're looking for a shootout you'll get it. If you're looking for star power you'll get it. If you're looking for Oklahoma to prevail, sorry. There's a huge hole in the middle.
Prediction: Florida 30, Oklahoma 20.
