OPINION

By Matt Hayes

updated 11:02 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2009

Matt Hayes

Examining five story lines of Week 14.

1. Game for the ages
It's pretty simple at this point: Win and you're in. That's the easy part.

The rest — a game of redemption, a Heisman Trophy moment, a 22-game winning streak, No. 1 vs. No. 2, the game everyone has waited for since last year's classic — fuels the anticipation for Saturday's SEC title game between Florida and Alabama.

"We've been waiting for them," said Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, "and they've been waiting for us."

Buckle up, everybody. Now that it's here, it wouldn't be the most anticipated game in the long and storied history of the SEC if it didn't come with a little drama.

Alabama tailback and Heisman candidate Mark Ingram is dealing with a sore hip but will play. Florida star defensive end Carlos Dunlap — hours after representing the Gators on the SEC teleconference — was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with DUI. He won't play.

At this point, those two story lines mean little in the grand scheme. This comes down to philosophies and personalities. Alabama wants to punish and impose its will; Florida seemingly is moving along with the ride, allowing its stout defense to set the tone and hoping the offense will do enough.

Really, it comes down to the quarterbacks: Alabama's Greg McElroy, he of the game-winning drive against Auburn that was a Daniel Moore-worthy painting, or Florida's Tim Tebow? You choose.

I asked Tennessee's Lane Kiffin — the coach who slowed down both teams in close losses this year — about the game. After praising both teams, he said of Florida, "But they've got Superman back there."

Win and you're in.

2. TCU's last hope
You can bet the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex — OK, the TCU campus — will be watching the Big 12 championship game and hoping against hope that Nebraska pulls the unthinkable and sends the Horned Frogs to the national championship game.

The thought process goes something like this: Nebraska made the Oklahoma offense — which, for the most part, is nearly identical to Texas' offense — look silly in a 10-3 victory by forcing five interceptions and limiting the Sooners to 325 total yards.

Everyone listen closely: OU's Landry Jones is no Colt McCoy.

And Nebraska's Zac Lee? Um, no.

Sorry, TCU. Like Utah last season, your consolation is playing an SEC team that doesn't want to play in the Sugar Bowl or a two-loss Big Ten runner-up.

3. Bad luck or no luck
I'm pretty sure the folks in the ACC aren't too happy about the state of Florida these days.

When this whole realignment deal was dreamed up, the ACC's heavy hitters fantasized of Florida State vs. Miami matchups in sold-out stadiums with the winner playing for national titles. Since FSU won the first ACC championship game in 2005, neither school has sniffed even a division championship.

To make matters worse, the two Florida cities playing host to the event have all but ignored the game. Jacksonville had the largest crowd in Year 1 at 72K, but the crowds since have looked more like high school games.

At last year's game in Tampa, the announced crowd was 27,360 — the real number was likely half that.

Now we have Clemson and Georgia Tech — both coming off losses to middle-tier SEC teams — rolling into Tampa and battling holiday shoppers at the Citrus Park Town Centre for best attendance of the day.

Dreamy.

4. The distraction
Look, let's call it what it is: Notre Dame wants Brian Kelly, and Kelly would crawl to South Bend to take the job.

The problem is, Kelly is a coach. And coaches, when they've got a beautiful thing going, can't even fathom a distraction — much less one that could wreck the immaculate team chemistry Kelly has built with this unbeaten Cincinnati team.

And, as a side note, Pitt is really good. Don't let its uncharacteristic mistakes in last week's loss in the Backyard Brawl fool you. The Panthers are the favorite in Saturday's game: They can run the ball and dictate tempo, and they can rush the passer and force the Bearcats into quick and poor decisions.

I guess what I'm saying is, win or lose, Kelly is the next coach at Notre Dame. The problem is, this unbeaten season is getting in the way.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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