Week 7 NCAA Football Preview

You can hear his name chanted in the Swamp at every game, with posters declaring him "The Chosen One" throughout the stadium. Fans have believed Tebow could bring the Gators a national title ever since he threw for a superhuman 9,810 yards, ran for 3,169 yards and scored 158 touchdowns at Neese High School in Jacksonville, Fla.

He has been the toast of the town in his first year - and he's not even a starter in the offense...yet.

"Tim is going to come in for his little complementary set of plays each week," Gators offensive coordinator Dan Mullen told reporters this week. "Chris [Leak] is our guy."Leak is in the top two in every passing category in school history, throwing for almost 10,000 yards in his career, along with 14 touchdown passes this year with a 65-percent completion percentage. He has led the Gators to a 6-0 record by running coach Urban Meyer’s spread-option offense to perfection, while Tebow has only had 14 passes total in the first six games.

And despite all Leak's impressive numbers, at times you can hear a chorus of boos mounting when his drives don't go as planned.

"Basically, they have a shiny new toy and they don't want to quit playing with it," Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley said.

Part of the restlessness to insert Tebow is because of Meyer. The coach has used Tebow as his closer on drives, putting him into third- and fourth-and-long situations where it is difficult to succeed. But when Tebow puts on his helmet, it’s almost as if he takes off his blazer, loosens up his tie, steps into the huddle and becomes Superman in the Swamp. Plowing through defenders twice his size like a fullback on the goal line.

"I'm the guilty one," said Meyer to the Birmingham News. "I want the ball in his hands right now. Tim is a guy you enjoy having the ball in his hands."

At 6-3, 229 pounds, Tebow has already boasted the power and speed to be Florida's second-leading rusher with 228 yards, but his true coming-out party was on Oct. 7 against then No. 9 LSU.

Already with a fourth-and-goal touchdown to his credit, Tebow made a play on second and goal that'll be in Gator highlight reels for the next decade. Tebow took the snap and ran toward the line of scrimmage, pulled up — like he was Kobe Bryant going for 82 — double clutched to allow tight end Tate Casey to get open, then jump shot the ball over several defenders. He later caught the usually disciplined LSU defense guessing and faked a QB draw and hit receiver Louis Murphy for a 35-yard touchdown that closed the door on the Tigers.

"He's been very efficient as a young quarterback in not making mistakes, of being patient and following blockers," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "He's tough to get. He's a big old boy.”

So don’t be surprised if you see Tebow in more Sportscenter highlights after this weekend, because as long as the Gators are rocking the Leak-Bow combination, touchdowns should follow.

"You have to have awareness to who is in the ball game," Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "Tebow is obviously a phenomenal athlete — big, strong, athletic, tremendous arm strength. He's a guy who will run the football very effectively for them."

QUICK HITS

The Buckeyes are a lock for the national title as long as they survive their Big Ten matchups this season, and the next conference opponent in the way is offensive-minded Michigan State.

"Michigan State will be another big test," Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis told the media this week. "They definitely think they should've beat us last year."

The Buckeyes have been stifling on defense allowing only 9.3 points per game while going under the total in five of their last six matchups, but if they come out as flat as they did in their first Big Ten contest (versus Penn State), the Spartans could start to break through Ohio State's dominating front four.

The Wolverines' march to the top of the AP Top 25 continues as they try to grab another Big Ten victory in a sea of Penn State white.

The Wolverines' resurgence has been due to the play of Chad Henne. After years of inconsistent play, the quarterback has helped Michigan average 33.5 points per game by completing 80 of 129 passes (62 percent) for 1,103 yards, 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Regardless of his success this season, the matchup will still be difficult. The last two battles have been covered by Penn State and decided by a margin of 2.5 points.

TOP PHOTO: Freshman quarterback Tim Tebow is the new sports car in Florida. (AP Photo)

Note: All NCAA football lines subject to change.

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