by GARRY SMITS , Florida Times-Union

Conversely, game-planning the right defenses to hold off the nation's top-scoring team - and the most prolific offense to ever play in a BCS title game - includes valuable practice time spent on the relatively simple task of getting substitution packages on the field ahead of the video-game pace of the Sooners' no-huddle attack, led by Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford.

"Our major concern is the tempo," Strong said. "When you look at us [Florida's offense], we average anywhere from 60-to-65 plays a game. When you look at their offense, they're averaging anywhere from 85-to-90 plays a game [actually, 80 plays per game]. It's really hard to practice, just to simulate getting the plays in. We have to get lined up on defense, and we have to tackle well."

The Sooners have scored 60 or more points in their past five games (averaging 54 points per game all season) and have scored on their first possession in 11 games. In the other two games, Oklahoma scored on its second possession.

Bradford has thrown for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns, with only six interceptions. Six receivers have caught 27 or more passes, led by Juaquin Iglesias with 69 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 scores. Seven players have caught two or more TD passes.

One wonders how the Sooners found enough at-bats for their running backs, but Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray each surpassed 1,000 yards rushing. Murray won't play tonight because of an injury suffered in the Big 12 championship game against Missouri, but that only means more carries for Mossis Madu, who scored six touchdowns.

The Gators are third in the NCAA in scoring (45.2 points per game) and 18th in total offense (443.3 yards). The spread offense that Tebow operates can grind teams into the turf (UF is 11th in rushing offense in the nation) or strike quickly (the Gators have recorded 76 plays from scrimmage that went for 20 yards or longer, 24 for touchdowns).

And the Gators are just as balanced as the Sooners. Five players have gained 400 yards rushing or more, led by Chris Rainey (655 yards) and Jeff Demps (582), and nine players have scored touchdowns on the ground.

Tebow has spread his passes among nine players who have caught 10 or more (Louis Murphy leads with 36 receptions, and Harvin has 35), and each one of those players has caught a touchdown pass.

By the way, both teams take care of the football. Oklahoma has lost only two fumbles. Tebow has thrown only two interceptions. Oklahoma is first in the nation in turnover differential, and the Gators are second.

It's no wonder that Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who had to play against Oklahoma this year and compete against the Gators from 2005-2007 as the defensive coordinator for LSU, said the game "could be a blow-out either way."

Trying to avoid that are the beleaguered defenses. Most experts give the edge to the Gators, based on playing in an SEC perceived to be faster and more physical on defense. Florida leads the SEC and is fifth in the NCAA in scoring defense, yielding 12.8 points per game, and is third in the SEC and ninth in the NCAA in total defense, giving up 279.3 yards per game.

"They're coming out of a region with a lot of great players, great speed, great tradition, playing in a great league," Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said.

Contrast that with Oklahoma, which is 57th in the NCAA in scoring defense (24.5 points per game) and 18th in total defense (324 yards per game). Were those statistics against Big 12 teams to be plugged into the SEC, the Sooners would be eighth in scoring defense and ninth in total defense.

But is Oklahoma's defense underrated because it has to play against six conference foes ranked among the top 13 in total offense? Its players think so. They have a chip on their shoulder, beginning when cornerback Dominique Franks essentially said Tebow was overrated and would be a middle-of-the-pack quarterback in the Big 12.

But Oklahoma coaches were concerned enough to risk injury and allow some contact work between the team's first offense and first defense, giving the defense more reps against faster skill-position players.

"That's going to help us," tackle Cory Bennett said.

The Sooners' offensive players have been more low-key, but they believe they will respond to the Gators' defensive speed.

"If Florida is faster, and that could very well be possible, we have answers to that," wide receiver Manuel Johnson said. "The best way to beat speed is run right at them, not around them. And sometimes, if guys have good speed, they're not as physical. I think we can go at them with a power running game, and if they bring an extra player in the box, it will open up the pass more."

But all the game-planning will come down to figuring out a way to control the quarterbacks, who have won the past two Heisman Trophies.

As Venables said, "you've got to cut the head off the snake."

garry.smits@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4362

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Florida VS. Oklahoma

When: 8 p.m. today -- Where: Dolphin Stadium, Miami -- TV/Radio: Fox; WJXL (1010 AM), WJSJ (105.3 FM) -- Line: Florida by 4 1/2 -- Records: Both teams are 12-1.

INTERACT

Are they there yet? Check out Mark Woods and Bob Self's GatorTrippin' blog (excerpt on Page D-5).

www.jacksonville.com/interact/blog/gator_trippin

BEST BCS OFFENSES

Here's how the Florida and Oklahoma offenses stack up against top offenses of national championship teams in the Bowl Alliance and Bowl Championship Series era:

CHAMPIONSHIP

YEAR TEAM GAME COMMENT

1995 Nebraska Beat Florida 62-24 in Tommie Frazier and Lawrence

Tempe, Ariz. Phillips decimate the Gators.

1996 Florida Beat Florida State 52-20 Danny Wuerffel and UF outscore the

in New Orleans Seminoles 28-3 in the second half.

2004 Southern Cal Beat Oklahoma 55-19 Matt Leinart throws for four TDs.

in Miami Reggie Bush has 149 all-purpose

yards.

2004 Texas Beat USC 41-38 in Vince Young throws for 267 yards,

Pasadena, Calif. runs for 200, scores the last two TDs.

1999 Florida State Beat Virginia Tech 46-29 Peter Warrick hauls in two TD

in New Orleans receptions, returns a punt for another

score.

PLENTY OF POINTS

Top offensive outputs this season for OU and UF:

Oklahoma

66 at Texas A&M

65 vs. Texas Tech

62 vs. Nebraska

62 vs. Missouri

61 at Oklahoma State

58 at Kansas State

Florida

70 vs. The Citadel

63 vs. Kentucky

56 vs. Hawaii

56 vs. South Carolina

51 vs. LSU

49 vs. Georgia

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