Second-half outlook: Florida

October, 21, 2009
10/21/09
12:30
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Maybe the pressure of being the defending national champion and dealing with all the expectations is starting to get to Florida. Urban Meyer conceded this week that some guys were pressing. The Gators have been far from dominant offensively, but will still be heavily favored against everybody they play the rest of the way in the regular season. With a two-game lead in the Eastern Division, they’ve all but locked up a trip to the SEC Championship Game. The bigger question is whether or not they can stay unbeaten and find some more playmakers on offense. Tim Tebow can’t do it by himself, which means guys like Deonte Thompson, Jeffery Demps, Chris Rainey and Brandon James need to provide more quick strikes down the field. The defense has been excellent, but getting everybody healthy for this final stretch will be critical. The Gators aren’t the same defense when senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes isn’t on the field.

Best-case scenario: Tebow gets some help on offense. The downfield passing game becomes more dependable, and the Gators get all their injured players back on defense. They run the table for their second straight SEC championship and go to Pasadena to play for their second straight national championship.

Worst-case scenario: The burden gets even heavier on Tebow. Defenses continue to gang up on him, and nobody else steps forward. The Gators trip up somewhere in the regular season and then lose again in the SEC Championship Game.

Prediction: Florida remains unbeaten until the SEC Championship Game, but loses to Alabama in Atlanta and plays in the Sugar Bowl.

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