Facts
Florida, Michigan....Michigan, Florida, etc.
But alas, it was all for nothing. Instead, we get to watch Ohio State beat up on an inferior Florida team that is no real threat to them and Michigan gets to work on their tan in Pasadena for the 3rd time in 4 years.
But imagine what could have been if people had voted for who they thought was best, instead of what game they wanted to see. (HT MGoBlog)
- One of these teams played a tougher schedule than the other as based on the cumulative winning percentage of their opponents
- One of these teams best win was in South Bend by 26 points while the others best win was by 13 points at home over LSU
- One of these teams lost on the road to the #1 team in the nation by three points while the other lost by 10 points on the road to 2 loss Auburn
- One of these teams only had 2 games decided by 7 or fewer points while the other had 7 games decided by 7 or fewer points
- One of these teams had a coach that refused to bitch and moan about what his team deserved, while the other had a coach that cried like a little girl.
- One of these teams was far better against their one common opponent (Vanderbilt) than the other
But alas, it was all for nothing. Instead, we get to watch Ohio State beat up on an inferior Florida team that is no real threat to them and Michigan gets to work on their tan in Pasadena for the 3rd time in 4 years.
But imagine what could have been if people had voted for who they thought was best, instead of what game they wanted to see. (HT MGoBlog)
George Lapides, a Memphis sports radio talk host, said he believed Florida would lose to Michigan if the teams were to play. But he jumped the Gators from No. 4 to No. 2, past the Wolverines, after Florida beat Arkansas.“I liked the idea of a conference champion playing a conference champion,” he said. “I think that’s more appealing than a rematch. I think you try to pick something as appealing as possible.”
Labels: College Football, Michigan Football
posted by robert paulson at 12/04/2006 05:08:00 PM
6 Comments:
What everyone fails not to recognize is this:
Florida's loss to Auburn may have been by 10 points, but that was only after Auburn scored a meaningless TD in the waning moments. The reason that even happened was after a highly questionable fumble/incomplete pass against Leak.
Michigan was actually down 10, and then scored a TD in the last two minutes, hoping for on an onside kick.
The Florida game was much closer than the Michigan game. If OSU had won in OT, or on a last second FG, that would be a close game.
Well, what some other folks don't realize is that Auburn sucked this year. Losing to Auburn is not an accomplishment.
When your team beats everybody that isn't ranked #1? That's not bad.
Robert,
I would never assert that Michigan isn't a great team, but they had their shot. Florida deserves an opportunity.
The real problem with the voters is not their last second flip-flop but their willingness to buy into the buzz. After the OSU-Michigan game, the hoopla was about a rematch, so people bought into it. They should have moved Michigan down to #5 after that game, just like every other team falls after a loss.
I have nothing against Florida. I have a problem with the logic, though, that Michigan "had their shot".
Had their shot at what? If OSU is the unanimous #1 team, every other team in the country would fall short of them in their conference? Michigan is being penalized for playing in a conference with the best team in the land. The BCS supposedly exists to put the two best teams in the country into the championship game. I find it funny that the majority of people voting Florida number 2 point out that they don't think Florida is better, they just don't want a rematch and are gaming the system to get what they want.
That's wrong. The BCS is flawed, but it is what it is.
Michigan had their shot at playing in Columbus. They didn't have their shot at playing OSU in a bowl game at a neutral site which Florida does. And what in Columbus? Michigan lost by a grand total of 3 points the day after Bo Schembechler died. Michigan would probably be about 50/50 or at worst 45/55 to beat OSU in Glendale because they are quite evenly matched.
Florida had their shot at going undefeated and blew it at Auburn. The fact that half their games were decided by 7 points or less tells me it wasn't a fluke that they lost and they very easily could have lost 3 or 4. Michigan hardly broke a sweat all year against a tougher schedule than Florida (based on opponents winning percentage).
And if anybody brings up Ball State again, they aren't allowed to comment unless they watched the game and acknowledge that BSU only scored 3 points against Michigan's first string defense and still wasn't close to winning at the end.
I don't think a rematch would be fair to OSU, however I don't think Florida is the 2nd best team in the country this year.
Robert,
You make a strong argument, and I won't discredit you for it. As I said, nobody can doubt Michigan's worthiness.
If this is truly about games being played on the field, I'm very excited to see what happens in:
1. Capital One Bowl (Wisconsin vs. Arkansas...arguably each team's best win)
2. Sugar Bowl (LSU vs. Notre Dame...the other top win for each team)
3. Rose Bowl (UM vs. USC)
The results of those games could be a good indicator of how Florida will fare. If Wisconsin and Michigan win, and ND even puts up a fight, I would be the first to admit that Florida should be sweating bullets. Personally, I can't wait to see what happens, because we really don't know.
Wow, that's one compelling argument! Michigan *is* the second best team in the nation.
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