OH, YEAH?

UF currently BCS title game underdog

By LOUIS ANASTASIS
Alligator Staff Writer

Tim Casey / Alligator Staff
UF linebacker Brandon Siler prepares to tackle Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in the SEC title game. Siler embraces UF's underdog status against Ohio State.

Nobody is giving UF a shot against Ohio State, and the Gators like that.

Oddsmakers introduced the Buckeyes late Sunday night as 7.5-point favorites for the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

So forget the fact that No. 2 UF (12-1) has won six consecutive games. Nationally, few expect the Gators to stand a chance.

"For some reason, people don't like us very much," linebacker Brandon Siler said. "But I don't think we're going to have problems responding to it because it's been like that all year. Why change things up? We don't want to go in being the top dog and who everyone thinks is going to win. At the beginning of the season, there were people thinking (Central Florida) was going to beat us."

That might be stretching it a little, but the Gators aren't much of a sexy pick for the title game.

Just ask former Buckeyes Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, now a FOX Sports analyst.

"Ohio State is going to win," George said Sunday night on TV. "It didn't matter who they were going to play."

Receiver Percy Harvin has been watching talking heads take their shots, but he's taking it all in stride.

"We kind of laugh at it because all season, basically no one's given us a chance," Harvin said. "Tennessee was better, LSU was better and we're always going to be underdogs no matter where we play."

For starters, Ohio State is undefeated. More importantly, the Buckeyes feature quarterback Troy Smith - a lock to win the Heisman Trophy - and one of the nation's most exciting offenses. The prolific spread attack has averaged 36 points a game, seventh nationally.

Meanwhile, the Gators were sporadic and inept in the scoring department prior to Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship game, when they scored 38 points on Arkansas. For much of the season, Urban Meyer's offense relied on a short passing game and an up-the-gut running game, not exactly the stuff lofty TV ratings are made of. The Gators average a pedestrian 29 points a game, and many of these points were scored via defense and special teams.

"We just have to deal with the doubters," UF quarterback Chris Leak said. "Everything will take care of itself on the field."

One asset the Gators have that is difficult to equate statistically is team speed. UF's defense ranks in the top-10 nationally in most defensive categories and has athleticism at every position on that side of the ball.

Against Arkansas, defensive lineman Ray McDonald tore a ligament in his right elbow and safety Tony Joiner suffered a severe high right ankle sprain, but both are expected to be ready for the Buckeyes.

If the Gators can somewhat contain Ohio State's offense and score some points, the game's watchability should be better than anticipated.

"Every week we're supposed to lose," Siler said. "It just seems like we never get any respect, and we love that."