Winner Takes All! Tarheels/Gators Set for SEC East Showdown

Week 11 sets the stage for one of RUTS3's most anticipated, late-season matchups, as #7 North Carolina travels to Gainesville to battle #8 Florida. The Tarheels have won the SEC East for the past three seasons, and it can be argued that the Heels are the more experienced team with the more experienced coaching staff. But this season, the arrival of Coach Gump on the scene in Gainesville has turned the SEC East upside down and revitalized a UF program which had seen a downturn in recent seasons.

"Coach Gump has brought energy, charisma, work ethic and sex appeal back to our program," said star RB Mack "Daddy" Brown. "He's fun to play for."

Under Gump's leadership, Brown has vaulted to the lead in the NCAA rushing statistics and has seen his NFL draft stock rise dramatically. Gump's legend grew even more after the Gators went into Death Valley and shocked the LSU Tigers in week 7. After that win, the first year head coach knew his team was capable of big things.

"They saw what they are capable of," said Gump, speaking of the win at LSU. "Now, we've been taking it one week at a time to get to this big matchup with UNC. This is our game of the year, and a chance to meet our first goal, which is winning the SEC East."

To accomplish that feat, the Gators will have to contend with a feisty bunch of Tarheels (8-1) who have reeled off 8 straight wins. With veteran QB Bryn Renner under center, senior star RB Giovanni Bernard toting the rock, and junior WR Shawn Tapley climbing the Heisman polls, Coach ChrisHicks21 has his club playing perhaps its best ball of the season. Getting a win over the Gators (who enter the game as a 4 point favorite) won't be easy though.

"We have got to go into The Swamp knowing we can win," said Coach ChrisHicks21. "We've done it before and we can do it again. We truly feel like our team is built for a championship this season. This is just the next step for us."

When asked about the mystery of the "Ground 'Em Pound 'Em" Offense that Coach Gump has brought to Gainesville, Coach ChrisHicks21 remained confident. "Our defense has got to play sound fundamental football and contain Brown on the outside," he said. "No big plays, no long runs. I am confident our offense can put up enough points to win if our defense plays well."

This game could be one for the ages. Can Coach Gump do something that no one predicted at the beginning of the season and lay claim to the SEC's top record and an SEC East title? It's "experience" vs. "been there done that," and it could come down to the game's final drive.

Both teams only defeats of the season came at the hands of #3 Ohio State in Columbus early in the season, with UNC losing 38-10 and UF losing 38-0. With that said, both teams have improved immensely since early on.

In a game that should come down to the wire, Lee Corso predicts: