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If College Football Had a Playoff: #12 Penn State NIttany Lions @ #5 Florida Gators

Continuing the new break out hit of the season "What if College Football had a Playoff" returns for game three of the playoff. Before we get to game three the previous matchup of #9 Georgia Tech at #8 Ohio State was a hotly contested matchup with the fan vote going to Georgia Tech upsetting the higher seeded Buckeyes.

This current matchup of Penn State traveling to the swamp against the Florida Gators will be another good game in this bracket (you hear that BCS). After losing the SEC title game we will all see if Tim Tebow can will the Gators through another four games to repeat as national champions.

Penn State will use their defense that gave up only 11.8 points per game to try to stop the Florida Gators which will only hold up for so long.

Penn State on offense will be the problem they will do their typical clam up into a shell and try to run against Florida. The Gator defense is too much, and will be able to stop the Nittany Lion offense. Neither offense will do much in this game as both have been spotty all year, but as mentioned above the Gator defense will be the key.

To give some help to those who are not sure who would win I turned to What if Sports to simulate this game. The outcome was as I expected which was a low scoring affair with Florida coming from behind to win 16-10. Florida scored the last 13 points after being behind 10 - 3 at the half. From the play by play the Gators were able to run the ball a little more effectively to pull out the win.

The What if Sports is not the decider in this game, you yes you! The readers of this site decide who moves onto the next round.

So gather your friends to stuff the ballot and check back daily at 12 PM eastern time to vote for the next matchup, and voting is only open for 24 hours. As they say in Chicago vote early and vote often.

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Penn State Stats


Passing

Passing Rushing Sacks
G Rating Comp Att Pct Yds Y/G Y/A TD INT Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD Sack YdsL
Daryll Clark 12 93.0 214 337 63.5 2787 232.3 8.3 23 10 73 191 15.9 2.6 7 - -
Matthew McGloin 1 0.0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - -
Kevin Newsome 8 70.0 8 11 72.7 66 8.3 6 0 0 20 95 11.9 4.8 2 - -

Rushing

Rushing Receiving
G Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD Rec Yds Y/G Avg TD
Brandon Beachum 8 24 113 14.1 4.7 1 3 29 3.6 9.7 0
Brent Carter 5 13 46 9.2 3.5 1 0 0 0 0 0
Daryll Clark 12 73 191 15.9 2.6 7 0 0 0 0 0
Curtis Drake 5 3 27 5.4 9 0 7 86 17.2 12.3 0
Stephfon Green 10 64 284 28.4 4.4 3 5 79 7.9 15.8 0
Derek Moye 11 1 -3 -0.3 -3 0 45 732 66.5 16.3 5
Kevin Newsome 8 20 95 11.9 4.8 2 0 0 0 0 0
Chaz Powell 10 9 76 7.6 8.5 0 27 355 35.5 13.1 3
Evan Royster 12 188 1104 92 5.9 6 16 187 15.6 11.7 2
Devon Smith 6 4 33 5.5 8.3 0 4 30 5 7.5 0
Joe Suhey 12 19 59 4.9 3.1 0 21 186 15.5 8.9 1
Shaine Thompson 2 3 14 7 4.7 0 0 0 0 0 0

Receiving

Receiving
G Rec Yds Y/G AVG TD
Brandon Beachum 8 3 29 3.6 9.7 0
Brett Brackett 3 3 13 4.3 4.3 1
Justin Brown 3 5 78 26 15.6 0
Curtis Drake 5 7 86 17.2 12.3 0
Stephfon Green 10 5 79 7.9 15.8 0
Derek Moye 11 45 732 66.5 16.3 5
Chaz Powell 10 27 355 35.5 13.1 3
Andrew Quarless 12 33 448 37.3 13.6 3
Evan Royster 12 16 187 15.6 11.7 2
Mickey Shuler 9 11 89 9.9 8.1 2
Devon Smith 6 4 30 5 7.5 0
Joe Suhey 12 21 186 15.5 8.9 1
Andrew Szczerba 1 1 6 6 6 0
Graham Zug 11 42 549 49.9 13.1 7

Kicking

Field Goals PAT
G 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ FGM FGA PCT XPM XPA PCT pts
Collin Wagner 12 - - - - - 11 18 60.0% 45 45 100.0% 78


Florida Stats


Passing

Passing Rushing Sacks
G Rating Comp Att Pct Yds Y/G Y/A TD INT Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD Sack YdsL
John Brantley 6 113.0 36 48 75 410 68.3 8.5 7 0 13 67 11.2 5.2 0 - -
Tim Tebow 13 103.0 182 279 65.2 2413 185.6 8.6 18 5 203 859 66.1 4.2 13 - -

Rushing

Rushing Receiving
G Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD Rec Yds Y/G Avg TD
Andrew Blaylock 1 4 6 6 1.5 0 0 0 0 0 0
John Brantley 6 13 67 11.2 5.2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vincent Brown 2 3 1 .500 .300 0 0 0 0 0 0
Riley Cooper 13 1 14 1.1 14 0 44 780 60 17.7 8
Mike Gillislee 5 26 189 37.8 7.3 1 1 6 1.2 6 1
Aaron Hernandez 12 1 16 1.3 16 0 59 729 60.8 12.4 4
Emmanuel Moody 11 50 364 33.1 7.3 1 4 26 2.4 6.5 0
Chris Rainey 13 85 548 42.2 6.4 4 6 90 6.9 15 1
Christopher Scott 1 9 26 26 2.9 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tim Tebow 13 203 859 66.1 4.2 13 0 0 0 0 0
Deonte Thompson 9 1 -2 -0.2 -2 0 19 280 31.1 14.7 3

Receiving

Receiving
G Rec Yds Y/G AVG TD
Riley Cooper 13 44 780 60 17.7 8
Mike Gillislee 5 1 6 1.2 6 1
Frankie Hammond Jr 5 4 57 11.4 14.3 1
Aaron Hernandez 12 59 729 60.8 12.4 4
Omarius Hines 5 14 172 34.4 12.3 1
Cade Holliday 4 6 102 25.5 17 1
Emmanuel Moody 11 4 26 2.4 6.5 0
David Nelson 10 23 254 25.4 11 2
Chris Rainey 13 6 90 6.9 15 1
Deonte Thompson 9 19 280 31.1 14.7 3
Justin Williams 4 6 50 12.5 8.3 2

Kicking

Field Goals PAT
G 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ FGM FGA PCT XPM XPA PCT pts
Caleb Sturgis 12 - - - - - 21 28 80.0% 38 40 100.0% 101
Jonathan Phillips 3 - - - - - 0 1 0 14 16 90.0% 14