The sports gamers out there already know (and probably are playing right now) that NCAA 2010 came out for major consoles last Tuesday. It’s a huge break of monotony for me. July provides little in the way of college football. There’s just something about going into Gamestop and seeing that pile of games sitting on the back counter and feeling the excitement as you wait in line for college football glory. Imagined or not, there is no other arena where you can feel as close to the game anytime you please just by pushing a “on” button.

I reserved my copy, picked it up Tuesday during my lunch break and couldn’t wait to get home. The main reason… Erin Andrews is now a part of the game. Yes, the Gator Alum is featured and does sideline reports that actually make you feel bad for the imaginary player that just went down.

The Gator Review: The game has an intro that is very similar to the commercial you see on TV. The colors are crisper and the menu options are a little more detailed, although slower in response. I started a Dynasty, Florida, which for the first time in the game’s franchise is # 1 in the game.

The commentary is the same as it’s been in the last five years or so and in need of a serious update. You can only here Lee Corso say “He took that back like a bad Christmas present, I love that one” so many times. Before the game and during timeouts and halftime you can choose how your team will play. The options are aggressive, bigger plays but more penalties, balanced, or conservative. I found that all aggressive gets you is a bunch of facemask penalties and really is a waste of time.

The creepy thing about the game is that it seems to be pretty accurate to what I expect the season to be. Florida’s biggest weakest in the game is a big play receiver. While Deonte Thompson, Riley Cooper, and David Nelson are very good players in the game they lack the breakaway, get behind the last defender and score kind of separation. Jeff Demps is the starting running back over Chris Rainey but they’re both rated the same. Oh and Aaron Hernandez is unstoppable.

Florida’s biggest strength is obviously there defense. Florida has a run defense that would stop the Detroit Lions. Once the season was over the ticker on the bottom tells of the top five teams in different categories. Florida gave up on average eighty rushing yards a game. Hopefully real life can mimic the game.

Florida’s closest game is at Mississippi State. I simulated the game but Florida won by ten, having to score a late touchdown to make the game comfortable.

Florida played Ole Miss in Atlanta. The score was 35-13. Then it was onto the Rose Bowl where the y faced Penn State.

Taking away a few running up the score touchdowns, Florida wins 36-14 in a game that is never close.

Again, the creepy thing about all of this is I can see all of this happening. EA Sports does a great job in the R & D department and I give them a nod for having this year so close to what I think will be the out come.

By: C. Brian Suggs