Florida or Michigan?

[RoyGBiv]

As any college football fan who is breathing knows, USC, the team apparently destined to meet Ohio State for the National Championship, lost today to UCLA.

Michigan has already lost to OSU, but it was a close game in which a different result in several key plays could have resulted in a different outcome.

Florida, currently ranked behind Michigan, beat Arkansas today in a barn burner that they truly risked losing at several moments.

And Michigan didn't play today, which works against them as far as the BCS is concerned.

So, who should it be playing Ohio State for the National Championship.

OnEdit: As for my opinion, I hate rematches in college football because they solve nothing. If Michigan and OSU were to meet and were Michigan to win, the question would linger. If OSU wins, then Florida will have a legitimate complaint it should have been given the opportunity. That said, I think Michigan is the 2nd best team in the nation. I think they deserve a chance to play in the championship game, but I also think that Florida should be the team that's sent there.

[El Supremo]

1. Hey! My poll was first!

But it will be a nail biter tomorrow.

[RoyGBiv]

2. Sorry ... too many beers ...

Too much football today.

I scanned the headers but didn't see it.

[BOSSHOG]

3. If the BCS doesn't change then all conferences should have

championship games. Why should two teams from the SEC (or Big 12) jeopardize their chance for a national title with one extra game while Big Ten and PAC Ten schools kick back and enjoy their show? If all major conferences had championship games there would be some semblance of a playoff and the BCS wouldn't continue to be the clusterfuck it has become and no one would have to ask the question Michigan or Florida (this years version of the BCS way to pick a champion.)

[RoyGBiv]

4. Completely agree ...

It's one of the reasons I don't apologize too strongly for OU in 2003. Naturally that was an embarrassment, but other powerhouse teams didn't have to face that kind of game at all and so had little room, imo, to criticize.

[Counciltucky]

6. Even if the Big Ten had a championship game...

...chances are that the conference would be split into two divisions with the best team in each division playing for the championship -- and Ohio State and Michigan would likely be in the same division.

[Redbear]

5. I pick Louisville over UM and Florida

They overcame a lot of injuries and were still almost perfect.

[Counciltucky]

7. Michigan.

They only lost to OSU by 3 points. They're as good as anyone. And Florida was kept close by Arkansas, a lesser team than OSU (with all due respect to the Hog fans out there).

I want the Big Ten re-match.

[Jawja]

8. Florida.

Michigan had their shot at Ohio State and lost both the game AND their conference; it was not earlier in the year but a few weeks ago when this happened. Ohio State vs Michigan is OVER and a re-match serves no one but Michigan and the pollsters who insist on keeping college football out of a legitimate playoff tournament by voting teams into mythical championships.

For this NATIONAL championship title game, Ohio State must be challenged by an opponent outside the Big Ten who are their Conference champions. Perhaps Florida is the most worthy opponent; or, perhaps Louisville is the most worthy opponent.

Matching Ohio State with any team other than a Conference Champion outside of the Big Ten not only cheats those worthy opponents, but college football in general. It will be further evidence that the BCS is total CRAP and is a poor substitute for a real college Division 1A football championship tournament.

[Counciltucky]

9. Michigan.

It's a statistical unusuality that the top two teams are from the same conference, but this year it's the case. Michigan's only loss came against the #1 team, and that was by a mere three points. This isn't the case every year, but this year, an OSU-Michigan rematch is justified.

That all said, I do have to agree with you on the championship tournament. I'd fully support it.

[Jawja]

10. Yes. Their

loss game to the #1 team. They've already had a shot at the #1 team and they lost.

For a national title game, the team that beat Michigan should be challenged to beat a conference champion from outside their conference.

Also, Michigan is one of the top two teams because they are VOTED #2. Those polls influence the BCS, which is why the BCS is crap. In reality, they lost their conference championship game to Ohio State and should not "advance" to the national championship game.

[Counciltucky]

11. Awww man ...

I was REALLY hoping you would say "Florida" in the title again. Just a string: "Michigan." "Florida." "Michigan." "Florida." ad nauseam. I digress, for that's my sense of humor.

I can understand the conference argument, though at the same time, some conferences are stronger than others in varying years. It's a not-so-easily predictable factor, whether the conference will have eight strong teams or three. And that's not to put the SEC down at all, as they're as strong a conference as any. I'm just disputing the general conference argument.

That said, the best two teams should play in the championship game. The human voting factor can be roundly debated without a clear answer resulting. And I have to agree with you from another post: a playoff format would be ideal. Unfortunately, it's a little too late for that this year.

Michigan lost to the #1 team by 3 points. Florida lost to the #10 team, 10-2 Auburn, by 10 points. While Auburn's no slouch by any stretch, and 10 points is undoubtedly close in the scope of a game like that, there is a difference.

That and Florida wasn't largely convincing in the SEC Championship Game. That said, that's more personal opinion than anything else.

[Jawja]

12. Florida.

'Nuff said. :hi:

[Counciltucky]

13. Michigan.

;-)

:rofl:

[Bluzmann57]

14. Big Ten (11) rules!

We shall see soon enough I suppose. But what about the Badgers of Wisconsin? One loss to Michigan and that's it. Why aren't they being discussed in the national championship picture? SCREW THE SEC!!!!!!!!! How are they the best conference? Because they say they are? Ha! I repeat, BIG TEN RULES!

[underpants]

15. Harder schedule, Conference Champs (with a Champ. Game), UM had their shot

Florida was clearly more deserving

[1gobluedem]

17. Harder schedule?

Was Florida's only loss to the #1 team in the country in that team's stadium? No? Didn't think so.

[BOSSHOG]

18. One could say OSU is ranked number one

because they play in the Big 10; obviously a much easier conference to pad a record in; ergo Michigan's loss there might not be that big a deal. How bout the big 10 have a conference championship game? I did enjoy Carr bitching about Florida playing two games after Michigan's season was over. I agree. Why should the SEC jeopardize two of their teams to BCS bufoonery in a conference championship game while the Big Ten takes final exams?

[Jack from Charlotte]

19. That's Meat-chickens war cry.............

celebrating a close loss aided by a window dressing end of the game TD to lose by only 3.

If Mich is #2 then Ball State must be #3.

"We're great. We only lost by 3. We came in 2nd in a 3 team league."

[bigwillq]

16. I think Florida deserved it.

That would've been my pick.

Florida played a tougher sked, won the SEC, perhaps the best conference in the nation and are just as talented as Mich.

Mich. had their chance. Why should OSU be forced to play them again? :shrug:

Flordia, I believe, is the No. 2 team in the nation and should be playing OSU for the national championship.

[BulletproofLandshark]

20. Michigan

They only lost to the best team in the country. Florida was dominated by the defense of a 2-loss team(Auburn).

I'm picking Ohio State to smoke the Gators by at least 2 touchdowns.