Game Five: 2004 Auburn Tigers (13-0) vs 1994 Florida Gators (10-2-1)
Tale of the tape:
'04 Auburn Tigers:
Points Per Game: 32
Points Allowed Per Game: 11
Avg. Margin of Victory: 21
Key wins: #16 LSU, #13 Tennessee (Twice), #7 Georgia, #10 Virginia Tech
Losses: None
'94 Florida Gators:
Points Per Game: 41
Points Allowed Per Game: 18
Avg. Margin of Victory: 32
Key wins: #4 Alabama, #22 Tennessee
Losses: #9 Auburn, #4 Florida St
Argument for Auburn:
In a word, balance. The offense could score, the defense could hit. Like the '98 Vols, both sides of the ball were just loaded with NFL talent. The offense was led by Jason Campbell at QB who had an outstanding Senior year. Tailbacks Caddillac Williams and Ronnie Brown shared rushing duties, with Williams going over 1,200 yards rushing, and Brown nearing 1,000, these guys could tote the rock. Auburn will try and establish the run, and rock the Gators to sleep. Then they'll go to work with Jason Campbell and his 172 efficiency rating. Anchored by Junior Rosegreen and Carlos Rogers in the secondary, and leveraging pressure from DL studs like Quentin Groves and Stanley McClover, the Auburn defense will really turn up the heat on this talented Gator offense.
Argument for Florida:
You want offense? The '94 Gators 'got your offense...41 points a game worth. This squad scored over 70 twice, and over 50 twice. They didn't score below 30 until the SEC Championship game where they beat Alabama 24-23. Danny Wuerffel, now in his Sophomore season, was well in his comfort zone. And WR Reidel Anthony emerged as his go-to guy. Florida wants and needs a track meet for this one. If they can get the score in the 30's, watch out. The defense probably going to yield some points, but they'll have to force some turnovers to keep the offense on the field.
How it Plays Out:
Florida comes out of the gate swinging. A quick slant to Anthony and a fade route to Doering nets the Gators a 1st and goal on the Auburn 8 yard line. Fred Taylor takes a draw from shotgun and coasts across the goal line. Similiar to the 2004 Iron Bowl, it looks as if Auburn may start slow out of the gate. Carnell Williams has other plans. Caddillac decided to start it like he did the 07 Iron Bowl. He takes the the ball off right tackle, jukes the first defender with something that resembles what happens when you push the R stick on your Xbox controller to the right when you're playing madden. Then he's gone. All of the sudden, it's 7-7 and all the fans haven't even filed into their seats yet.
Florida bounces right back. A couple of dump offs from Weuerffel, a 16 yard scamper from Taylor led to a Gator field goal. 10-7 Florida. Auburn fumbles the ensuing kickoff and has to start from their own 7 yard line. A quick 3 and out and a short punt gives the Florida offense the ball at the Auburn 41. Tuberville had watched the tape. He knew Spurrier liked going for the throat after turnovers. Wuerffel didn't notice the defender creeping up to the line, and a Will Herring blitz forced an errant pass that Junior Rosegreen plucked from the sky. He makes it all the way to the Florida 13 before being pulled down from behind by Anthony. Two plays later, Campbell fires a bullet to Ben Obomanu just over the goal line.
The remainder of the half involved both defensive struggles and offensive miscues. But Auburn managed a FG to close the 2nd Quarter. Score at the half: Auburn 17, Florida 10.
Taking the opening kickoff of the 2nd half, Carnell Williams finds his way to the Auburn 33. Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams then begin pounding the pavement and manage back to back 20+ yarders. Catching the Gators napping, Campbell finds a wide open Cooper Wallace in the middle of the field, as the Florida safety bit on the ball fake to Brown. Wallace rumbles and stumbles his way to the 3 yard line. Ronnie Brown then plowed over a Gator DB so bad, that Tennessee fans who were watching immediately had flashbacks.
Florida and Auburn both only managed one field goal each the rest of the way, moving Auburn into the next round of play.
Final Score: Auburn 27 Florida 13
Link to Bracket (possible spoiler)
Mythical Playoffs Home