Better Later Than Gator

I just realized that we have a bowl game tomorrow.  OK, I didn't JUST realize it.  I knew it was coming up.  But with holiday parties (I'm the entertainment for our office party--I also do Bar Mitzvahs and Birthdays), meeting with the accountant to figure out how much money I didn't make this year, Christmas, Christmas cards, running a football pool, watching NASCAR bowl games and drinking beer, I just didn't realize the game was coming up so soon.  I must also admit I've been distracted by all the Paterno rumors, which I do plan to blog about after the game is over so as not to distract myself any further.

But despite everything going on, the game is tomorrow.  PSU V. UF.  Paterno V. Meyer.  North V. South.  Big Ten V. SEC.  Tastes great V. Less Filling.

So how do we match up with these Gators?

Both teams are 7-5.  Like PSU, the Gators did not beat a ranked team on their schedule (PSU did beat THEM when they were ranked 25th in one poll, but who's counting?)

Here's how Florida fared:

Team	Result
Miami(OH)	W 34-12
South Florida	W 38-14
Tennessee	W 31-17
Kentucky	W 48-14
Alabama	L 31-6
LSU	L 33-29
Miss State	L 10-7
Georgia	W 34-31 OT
Vanderbilt	W 55-14
South Carolina	L 36-14
App. State	W 48-10
F$U	L 31-7

In the only common opponent, at Alabama, neither PSU nor Florida fared well.

In terms of NCAA rankings, here are how the two teams compare:

NCAA Stats Comparison
Category:	Penn St.	Florida
Rushing	75	44
Passing Offense	52	85
Total Offense	68	79
Scoring Offense	80	48
Rushing Defense	76	26
Turnovers Gained	104	34
Passes Had Intercepted	55	47
Pass Defense	23	13
Net Punting	24	1
Punt Returns	52	53
Kickoff Returns	55	4
Turnover Margin	62	62
Fumbles Recovered	95	86
Passes Intercepted	83	11
Fumbles Lost	3	107
Turnovers Lost	18	91
Passing Efficiency	66	85
Pass Efficiency Defense	79	23
Total Defense	45	9
Scoring Defense	40	31
Fewest Penalties Per Game	3	111
Fewest Yards Penalized Per Game	3	94
Punt Return Yardage Defense	43	71
Kickoff Return Yardage Defense	42	34
Offense Third-down Efficiency	42	73
Offense Fourth-down Efficiency	75	63
Defense Third-down Efficiency	8	54
Defense Fourth-down Efficiency	14	86
Tackles for Loss	87	41
Offense Tackles for Loss	6	74
Pass Sacks	101	76
Pass Sacks Allowed	12	60
Time of Possession	44	90
First Downs	66	68
First Downs Allowed	35	26
Red Zone Efficiency	76	116
Red Zone Efficiency - Defense	118	53
Average NCAA Rank:	52.16	57.54
Weighted Avg. Rank:	57.5	42.17

Penn State has a slight edge in average overall ranking, but the weighted rank, which gives more weight to important categories like Total Offense and Defense, and less emphasis to categories like total penalties, we see that Florida has the better team on paper.

Neither offense is very good, but PSU has a slight edge, especially in scoring.  Uncharacteristically, the PSU defense is struggling this year and the numbers reflect that.  Florida has the edge here and defense is usually the more important factor in winning these games.

But what about the intangibles?

Will the Florida players be motivated to send Urban off with a win?  Or will the uncertainty of their future and the hoopla surrounding the resignation be a distraction?

For Penn State, are the rumors true?  Will Paterno step down afterward?  (I don't think so.)  Are the rumors a distraction, or will they fire up the team the way it seems to have fired up both Joe AND Sue Paterno?

Paterno has done well in bowl games over his career.  Generally if you give Joe enough time, he will have his team prepared.  There have been exceptions to this rule, including the last bowl game against Florida, although PSU played without two of its star players in that match-up.

Penn State is 0-2 all-time versus Florida.

The line favors Florida by 7.5 points.

I think Paterno finds a way to put things together, hopefully using the bowl game as a springboard to a great season next year.  I pick PSU in a close one--somewhere around 20-17.

GO STATE!  BEAT GATORS!