About Florida (12-1): The Gators are playing for pride after this year\u2019s only expectation was national championship or bust. Despite the country\u2019s best defense and the SEC\u2019s best rushing attack at 225 yards per game, the Gators got embarrassed 32-13 against Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. Quarterback Tim Tebow does not want to end his storied career with two straight losses. Florida\u2019s defense entered the Alabama game allowing 9.8 points per game, the country\u2019s best margin. This is the last game for the winningest senior class in SEC history with 47 wins and two national titles. It will also be the last game for many NFL-bound juniors such as CB Joe Haden and DE Carlos Dunlap. Third downs will be crucial for Florida, which converts 49 percent of its attempts. All season, Tebow has had trouble spreading the ball to receivers other than WR Riley Cooper and TE Aaron Hernandez, who combined for 103 catches this year.<\/p>\n
About Cincinnati (12-0): The Bearcats overcame quarterback injuries and the Notre Dame distraction to creep within one Texas field goal of a chance at the national title game. Cincinnati has a potent passing attack that averages 326.5 yards per game \u2013 almost 100 more than Florida\u2019s \u2013 thanks to QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard\u2019s 1,150 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. It\u2019s the defense that has more to prove. Cincinnati is 49th nationally in total defense (350.3 yards per game) and 57th in rushing defense (141 ypg), where the Bearcats will be tested since Florida likes to win on the ground. Cincinnati\u2019s front defensive seven must find a way to stop Tebow in short yardage. The Bearcats should be able to move the ball enough to at least thwart Florida\u2019s defense. Despite missing three games to injury this year, Pike has thrown for 701 combined yards in the last two games. Starting RBs Isaiah Pead and Jacob Ramsey average more than 6 yards per carry.<\/p>\n