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Boomer Sooner Check out Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Sam Bradford in action. NBCSports.com

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OPINION

By Davis Curtis

updated 6:12 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2009

MIAMI - The wonders of video technology have made Florida's defensive players here temporary experts on Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. They can discuss his tendencies and his poise, his strong arm and his gaudy regular-season statistics. All that, and their first impressions of him revolve around his wardrobe.

"Every time I see him play," Gators safety Ahmad Black told reporters here earlier this week, "his jersey is clean. I haven't seen him be hit once."

Look, picking against Tim Tebow in anything is football blasphemy, as bad as opting out of Haagen-Dazs, or a dip in the ocean or Eva Mendes. But Bradford, in large part thanks to the line and skill players around him, has piloted Oklahoma to an incredible season so far. That run continues Thursday night, when OU's Bradford will outplay UF's Tebow in the BCS national championship game.

Unlike Tebow, who turned into Timmy Intangible in 2008 (his biggest contribution to the Gators was a speech to the press), the statistics back up Bradford as the best. Black and his buddies are right — postgame, Bradford's gear has fewer stains than Tebow's image.

The sophomore ranks fourth in the nation in total offense. OU lead the nation in scoring. Heck, the Sooners lead every team in Division I-A college football in scoring, with 702 points so far. If they get shut out Thursday night, they will still average better than 50 points per game this year.

Yeah, we know, the guy had more help lately than General Motors. Bradford gets protected by a veteran offensive line that might feature four pros. He's got four receivers averaging better than 55 yards per game, including America's best college tight end in Jermaine Gresham. And even with starting back DeMarco Murray on crutches this week, Bradford's backfield will feature another 1,000-yard rusher (Chris Brown) and a third-stringer who topped 100 yards in the Big 12 championship game (Mossis Madu).

But none of this happens without Bradford. Insert any other quarterback, from Tebow to OU scout-teamer John Nimmo, and the records don't fall, the statistics aren't so staggering. Bradford mastered the no-huddle scheme offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson installed the spring and now conducts it better than any major college quarterback who's tried.

He's accurate enough to hit better than two-thirds on his throws. And for every one he completes to the other team, he's got eight touchdown passes on his ledger. And don't forget the qualities his side raves about most — patience, decision-making and leadership.

"He's the best," coach Bob Stoops said Monday.

Can't argue that.

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