So I guess it is Ohio State versus Florida for the national championship. Florida leapt over Michigan in the BCS rankings and the Wolverines are fated to meet USC in the Rose Bowl (my money is on Michigan).
I still think Michigan (11-1, second place in Big 10) are a better team than Florida (12-1, SEC champions) and could beat the Buckeyes on neutral territory. I can hear it now ... Florida won their conference but Michigan didn't, so the Gators deserve to go to the big one. Yeah, but look at who Michigan lost to (and by only three points at that). Obviously winning a conference shouldn't be the test of who gets to the championship game.
I, for one, would have loved to spend January 8th with a rematch of the last Ohio v Michigan game, and I know many other football fans feel the same way. Instead, I predict we'll see the Buckeyes stomp on the Gators.
As Gene Wojciechowski notes, Michigan
was 11-1 on Nov. 18. It was 11-1 on Dec. 3. But between then and now the Wolverines apparently became the cellulite queens and somehow lost the swimsuit portion of this ridiculous BCS beauty pageant.
Michigan didn't do a thing wrong. And yet [Lloyd] Carr was the one who had to console his team Sunday night.
But that is immaterial now.
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OTOH....
Florida lost due to a non-existent penalty called on them @ Auburn (the number 10 BCS team).
Florida's strength of schedule, and strength of victories, vastly outclasses both OSU and Michigan.
The exercise is not necessarily to pick the two best teams, especially if you mean at the moment. It's about making the title as close to something earned on the field, against all comers, as we can. Michigan had their shot, imperfect though it was, and they lost. Florida hasn't gotten their shot, and they won the toughest conference in the country, and had to play a title game Ohio State didn't. That, and it's a lot more fair to Ohio State that Florida get the shot, because Ohio State already beat Michigan, and they shouldn't have to do it again, especially in a rematch situation that often favors the team that lost the first matchup. So all that said, even if I was certain Michigan was better than Florida, I still think Florida should be in the title game instead.
"So all that said, even if I was certain Michigan was better than Florida, I still think Florida should be in the title game instead."
That is a ridiculous statement. I want see the two best teams, and if Michigan is the second best team, then they should play. That said, there is an argument to be made for Flordia. They had a tough schedule. Still, let's not pretend the BCS is about letting the best teams play in the best bowls. Notre Dame, who has consistently shown that they cannot compete with good teams, get's a BCS game because they know how to negotiate a good contract. Also, Michigan has the 'honor' of playing USC, who lost to...*drumroll* Oregon State and UCLA. Wow, top caliber teams there. Again, let's not pretend this is about the best teams. Instead, let's admit that it is mostly about money and TV ratings.
Mark P: I didn't want to imply that you thought it is supposed to be about the best teams. What you think it is about is a mystery to me (I want to see the best teams, dammit).
Go Gators! 'nuff said. :)
Well, I expected a scientist to provide better evidence of why Michigan should play OSU. I understand the sour grapes feeling though. For many reasons I am emotionally attached to my team, Florida: It's my alma mater, I'm a cuurent doc candidate there, I work at UF full time, and ever since Spurrier gave us a taste of sweet sweet victory (as has Donovan), I'm hooked. So my team was selected to play. Are they the number 2 team? That's debateable. Will OSU wipe them off the map. We'll have to wait and see. I try not to get my hopes up, but I think UF will give Ohio a run for it's money. I definitely think we could take Michigan with this team, any day (sorry... like I said I'm emotionally attached!).