The Wiz of Odds

Why Was Tebow Still in the Game?

A look at Florida's Tim Tebow getting knocked out after being hit by Kentucky's Taylor Wyndham during Saturday's game in Lexington. Wyndham's hit sends Tebow crashing into left knee of tackle Marcus Gilbert, and the quarterback suffers a concussion. He was hospitalized overnight and released. Southeastern Conference officials have ruled that the hit was clean.

One always hates to see players get hurt, but with the Gators leading, 31-7, deep in the third quarter, you have to wonder why Tebow was in the game. It's even more curious when you consider Tebow was suffering from flu-like symptoms late in the week and flew to Lexington on a plane separate from the team.

Game 2: Florida at Kentucky

Greg then made the 88-mile trip south to Lexington for the Florida-Kentucky game. To view Greg's gallery from this game, click here.

Bradford Meets With Andrews; Tebow Has Illness

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford flew to Birmingham late Friday and was to meet Saturday morning with renowned sports surgeon James Andrews, according to a report by Christian Steckel of WAPT-TV in Jackson, Miss.

Bradford sprained the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder before halftime of the Sooners' 14-13 loss to Brigham Young on Sept. 5. The Heisman Trophy winner has sat out the last two games. Oklahoma has a bye this week.

"There is no talk of surgery that we know of on the record, this is further evaluation on the original injury," Steckel said. "He wants to return to play next week [against Miami] and he's been in consultation with Dr. Andrews from the beginning, but he's going to make an appearance in front of him on this so he can make a better evaluation."

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and safety Major Wright have come down with flu-like symptoms. The team plays Saturday night at Kentucky, and the players flew to Lexington on a plane separate from the team, according to Kyle Maistri of the Florida Independent Alligator.

Zook Fires Back at Meyer

Illinois' Ron Zook initially brushed off comments made by Florida's Urban Meyer that suggested Gator freshmen under Zook were treated as "non-people." That changed Saturday.

Zook, after having a night to sleep on Meyer's comments, issued a terse statement:

"I was surprised to see that, once again, five years later, we're blamed for something else at Florida," Zook said. "But by now I guess I shouldn't be. This one was most disappointing because it implies we didn't look out for our players. From someone who wasn't there at the time.

"I can assure you I've never, ever been accused of that. I thought I was too much of a players' coach. The implication is incorrect — there is no place for hazing in college football and we've put a stop to that if we've ever seen it.

"I applaud Florida for fostering what they say is a wonderful family atmosphere. I would invite anyone to talk to any of our players here at Illinois and, although we don't look for media opportunities to brag about it, it is a wonderful family atmosphere.''

Meyer Wasn't Taking a Shot at Zook, Was He?*

*Updated: Meyer now says he never intended to criticize Zook.

Urban Meyer has had little to complain about since becoming Florida's coach in 2005. He has won two Bowl Championship Series titles, including one with a roster stacked with veteran players recruited by his predecessor, Ron Zook.

But on Friday, Meyer — without mentioning Zook by name — appeared to take a shot at the Illinois coach.

David Jones of Florida Today writes that Meyer was asked a question about how he handles players having arguments on the field and in the locker room.

"When we first got here five years ago, they had freshmen in a separate locker room and it was a bunch of tin lockers over there and they weren't allowed to walk [into the regular locker room]. Think about this for a minute: this is a big-time college football program and we had some fights because they treat their freshman like they were non-people," Meyer said.

" 'Don't walk through here, we'll kick your tail, we'll shave your eyebrows.' It took us awhile to break that great culture we had here. That was tremendous. You don't win many games, but you beat up freshmen and shave eyebrows. Absolutely unbelievable."

Gators a 73-Point Favorite Over Charleston Southern*

*Updated: Was the 73 meant be a 63? Matt Hinton of Dr Saturday has the scoop. Wiz take: Even at 63, it would probably be the biggest pointspread in college football history, eclipsing the 59.5 points Hawaii spotted Northern Colorado in a 2007 season opener. Hawaii won, 63-6, and failed to cover.

It has come to this in college football. Danny Sheridan of USA Today has made Florida a 73-point favorite in its Sept. 5 opening game against Division I-AA Charleston Southern. It's believed to be the largest pointspread ever for a college football game.

Las Vegas normally doesn't post lines on games involving Division I-A teams playing I-AA opponents for obvious reasons. It's simply not a fair fight. I-A teams are allowed to have 85 players on scholarship, I-AA teams only 63. There are a myriad of other reasons, but Sheridan occasionally puts a number on such a game.

But seriously, isn't it about time the NCAA put an end to such games? Since the NCAA adopted the divisional setup in 1978, only five I-A teams have not played a I-AA opponent. Those teams are Michigan State, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA and Washington. The Spartans fall off the list Sept. 5 because they play host to Montana State.