Pretend NCAA Division I Playoffs, Semifinal: Texas vs. Florida

After running the last two game simulations it is clear that Oklahoma, USC, Florida and Texas are separated only by a slim margin in the “mind” of the computers. First OU beats USC in an overtime game that I dubbed as the best yet of our pretend playoffs and now Texas and Florida go to two overtimes to settle who would face the Sooners in our pretend championship game.

Florida arrived to the Rose Bowl to take on the Longhorns by beating Texas Tech 42-28 and Texas is in Pasadena after handling Utah 35-24. With Oklahoma waiting on the winner you can just imagine the hype that would be around this game. If Florida wins they will face their 3rd consecutive Big 12 opponent in a row when facing OU for the championship and if the Longhorns advance then the Red River Rivalry gets it biggest stage ever.

This game would live up to the hype as well. After swapping field goals in a ho-hum first half, Florida’s Percy Harvin scored on a 9 yard pass from Tim Tebow and Emmanuel Moody scored on a 42 yard run to take a 17-6 lead at the end of three. Just as the third quarter was good for the Gators, the fourth was every bit as good for the Longhorns. First, Vondrell McGee would score on a 38-yard run and then Colt McCoy would hit Jordan Shipley for a 22 yard strike. The Longhorns would fail on a two-point conversion attempt following their first touchdown but convert on the next one to give them a 20-17 lead. Florida added a late field goal and the game was headed to overtime!

The two teams would swap field goals again in the first overtime but after Hunter Lawrence missed from 41 yards out the stage was set for Percy Harvin once again. Florida’s All World back dashed into the end zone from 11-yards out to end what has truly been the greatest game in our pretend playoffs.

Florida: 30
Texas: 23

Texas Stats
Passing
Colt McCoy – 15/22, 244 yards, 1 touchdown
Rushing
Vondrell McGee – 15 carries, 72 yards, 1 touchdown
Chris Ogbonnaya – 10 carries, 43 yards
Colt McCoy – 15 carrier, 41 yards
Receiving
Jordan Shipley - 5 receptions, 110 yards. 1 touchdown

Florida Stats
Passing
Tim Tebow – 8/11, 152 yards, 1 touchdown
Rushing
Emmanuel Moody – 9 carries, 80 yards, 1 touchdown
Jeffery Demps – 10 carries, 57 yards
Percy Harvin – 10 carries, 41 yards
Tim Tebow – 18 carries, 32 yards
Receiving
Deonte Thompson – 2 receptions, 61 yards

The Other Semifinal
#5 USC 24, #1 Oklahoma 27

Consolation BCS Bowls
Sugar Bowl - #4 Alabama 17, #8 Penn State 14
Fiesta Bowl - #6 Utah 37, #7 Texas Tech 51

* Games simulated by whatifsports.com