\jeff{krimmel}

Ohio State Versus Florida

I really don’t know what to think about this one. I was split between whether Michigan or Florida should be chosen to have a shot against Ohio State. I was reading an article the other day, maybe by Stewart Mandel at SI.com, about the difference between the “best” team (after Ohio State) versus the “most deserving” team. It was never in doubt to me that Florida was “more deserving” than Michigan to get a title shot, but I’m not sure they’re better than Michigan is. In fact, I think they’re not.

So, I’m left with a situation where I think Michigan is a better football team than Florida is, but everything else says that Florida should get a shot. Michigan had their chance to beat Ohio State and didn’t do it. Florida won the overall best conference in the country while playing the toughest schedule in the country. It’s kind of difficult to say they don’t deserve a shot at the national championship.

I don’t know how to account for the fact that if Michigan was in the SEC, I think Michigan would be your SEC champion right now. Michigan has one of the better defenses you’ll see in college football, and they have that reliable running attack that can make all the difference in the big games. Florida is spotty and has been all year. But they came up with the big win when they had to, and you can’t take that one away from them.

I think Ohio State would beat either team in the championship game, but I think Florida would put up less of a fight. Chris Leak is just too prone to making a bonehead decision, and the Ohio State defense will capitalize on those mistakes. Florida also won’t be able to line up and pound it down Ohio State’s throat. They’ll have to get tricky to pull off the upset, and I’m just not sure they’ll be sufficiently tricky to overcome the tidal wave of offense that Ohio State is likely to produce.

But let me say how happy I am that USC lost. It really gets old seeing the same team over and over again in the national championship game (unless it’s my Longhorns, of course). I am much happier seeing Florida taking a shot at Ohio State than I would have been with USC getting that opportunity.

Now it’s time for Oklahoma to embarrass Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. And it would be awesome to see Nebraska beat Auburn in the Cotton Bowl. What a way to steal some luster from the SEC and make the Big 12 look good in the process. I doubt that one happens. Texas A&M beating Cal in the Holiday Bowl would also help the conference look good and expose the Pac 10.

Of course that leaves Texas, which should blow the doors off Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. I’m really hoping those last two losses were flukes, and with a month of preparation and healing for Colt McCoy, we should be able to run all over the Hawkeyes and force a handful of turnovers. I’m thinking something like 38-17, Texas. But I’ll make another prediction as the game nears.

Hook ‘em!