Michigan deserves to play in the BCS National Championship Game more than Florida
Florida is a good team, no doubt, and Urban Meyer has done a great job stepping into that position and turning Florida back into a dominant program. Congratulations, enjoy the Sugar Bowl. Michigan is the clear choice to play Ohio State on January 8, for the BCS National Championship. Of course, we will all find out Sunday who will play in what bowl games. But let me take a moment to tell you why Michigan, and not Florida should play Ohio State.
- Michigan’s one loss was to the number one team in the country. And they only lost by 3 points on the road.
- Florida’s loss, also on the road, was to a strong Auburn team and the Gators lost by 10. On top of that, Auburn isn’t close to Ohio State.
- Strength of schedule: Jeff Sagarin’s rating say that Michigan has the 13th most difficult schedule while Florida has the 27th most difficult.
- Total offense rank: Florida 21st; Michigan 32nd
- Total defense rank: Florida 10th; Michigan 6th
- Taking the offensive and defensive rankings and combining them with the strength of schedule, the numbers say that Michigan is the better team.
- Michigan is currently ranked higher in both polls. Florida’s win on Saturday over Arkansas is probably not enough to prompt the pollsters to have the Gators leapfrog the Wolverines in the polls.
I know I’m biased. I have tried to look at the facts and see where that takes us. Of course I want Michigan to have another crack at the Buckeyes. But I think it would truly be the best 2 teams in college football playing against each other. Tell me that I’m wrong, or on the off chance that you think I’m right can I get a witness.
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December 2nd, 2006 at 11:54 pm
Michigan is number two by far. Their only loss is to number one Ohio State by three points. Florida has a loss to a team that has two losses and is not ranked as high as Michigan.
December 3rd, 2006 at 9:33 am
U of M is clearly better than Fl? Their loss to OSU wasn’t nearly as close as the score. The Buck’s beat U of M in every category except turnovers, none of which were forced. If you subtract those 10 points off turnovers from the final score would we all be so sure that U of M is CLEARLY the best of the two #2 contenders? The best wins they have are Wisc. at home, a team who beat nobody and ND who everybody now seems to agree was over rated all year. Fl on the other hand has faced a lot of quality teams and won the SEC title in a conf. everyone seems to agree is the best from top to bottom. In other words I think the eyeball test that some are using to tell us that U of M is better than Florida is iffy. That same eyeball test told us USC would crush UCLA, that ND was for real, that “fill in the blank” couldn’t beat “fill in the blank”. Ultimately whoever faces OSU will have half the country saying they don’t belong. And if both #2 contenders win… yet another split mythical national title.
December 3rd, 2006 at 5:40 pm
@Buckeye Eli
Looking at the strength of schedule, I would have to say that the Big Ten is the stronger conference. Michigan and Florida have one common opponent, Vanderbilt. Michigan beat Vanderbilt 27-7 at home, and Florida beat them 25-19 on the road. Florida’s other key wins would be their wins against LSU at home and Arkansas on a neutral field. Michigan has quality wins over Notre Dame on the road, Penn State on the road and Wisconsin at home. To me, that gives Michigan the edge. To try and discount points off of unforced turnovers only minimizes Ohio State. It’s a part of football.
January 6th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
youll are stupid michigan got raped by usc and florida is not better than arkansas even though they won. Lsu is better than florida and they killed notre dame worse than michigan. Lsu should be playing for the national titile.
January 6th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
@VRV
I’ll try to wade past the unintelligible first sentence, and discuss what I think you’re trying to say.
Obviously Michigan was overmatched against USC. If Florida is not better than Arkansas, how is it that Arkansas was beaten by WIsconsin (a team that Michigan beat 27-13)? And Florida beat LSU 23-10.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I find your argument a little weak. Thanks for offering it though.
January 10th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
lol
January 15th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Nation, (especially Michigan
I admit it, I admit it, Michigan should have been in the BCS title game…. instead of: Ohio State….
GatorNation,
I am really enjoying the company of our new best friend….Last Laugh!!!!!
The only thing I regret is and to quote our famous OBC, “We should have hung half a hundred on ‘em!!”
WE NEED A PLAYOFF, even though the BCS got it right with FLORIDA, as the title game so clearly showed, the bigger injustice would have been to FLORIDA and not Michigan (hell you at least got a shot…)