"My Gators, Step Over Ya"

Dave Chappelle couldn't have said it any better. Tim Tebow and the boys are on a roll so far this year, already dismantling two of its top rivals, Miami and Tennessee. If the Gators get the sweep by beating Georgia and Florida State...well let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Florida is stacked this year. Not only on offense, but swarming on defense as well. Tebow hasn't had to put up gaudy numbers or run the ball 20 times a game to do it either. While it might take him out of Heisman consideration early, it's better for him, and the team, down the road.

As Tebow takes less of a pounding, more playmakers emerge in the spread offense. WR Percy Harvin has been a stud since stepping foot on campus, return specialist Brandon James can go the distance at any moment, freshman RB Chris Rainey might be the fastest kid in the country (LSU's Trindon Holliday would be a great race), and transfer RB Emmanuel Moody could give them a physical runner between the tackles. Tebow hasn't had to do much besides manage the game and make clutch runs and throws to get crucial first downs. While his numbers have been pedestrian, 489 passing yards with 5 passing TDs and 118 rushing yards and no rushing TDs through three games, his leadership is always on display. He is never rattled, always makes something happen, and constantly pushes for more. I think he's wanted to go for it on every fourth down so far this season. He can always be seen looking back, and yelling, in head coach Urban Myers' direction, refusing to come off the field. Players have to thrive off that whenever he's around them, he just has that type of competitive personality.

Florida's schedule can be split up into quarters, with the first having just wrapped up. Preseason, the first three games looked like there could be some pitfalls: start off with BCS-participant Hawaii, up-and-coming Miami (FL), and an always tough, ranked Tennessee game in Knoxville. Although all three of those teams have been letdowns, Florida still made sure to assert its dominance when they played.

Now it's on to a quick second quarter, with two games in which the Gators will be heavily favored: SEC West doormats Ole Miss and Arkansas. Florida has to win these two games without any suspense because after that, it's a grind.

The third quarter features games against three ranked opponents, two of which are in the top five with Florida in both polls: 5 LSU, Kentucky, 3 Georgia and 21 Vanderbilt. It's hard to expect the Gators to come out of that unscathed, but anything is possible. If they do, they can't have any setbacks as they wrap up the fourth quarter and head into the SEC championship.

The fourth quarter is a stretch of games the Gators should win, but tend to make hard on themselves. South Carolina has been a challenge since Steve Spurrier returned and Florida State can never be underestimated as a rivalry game. The Citadel is an exhibition.

With Florida passing the first round of tests, it's imperative for them to keep the pedal to the floor. If they get to halftime with a shutout in the loss column, they can enter the next phase knowing their fate is in their hands. Another national championship is in the crosshairs, it's up to them to finish.