Is Florida or Michigan More Worthy to Play Ohio State in the National Championship Game?

Since everybody in the free world seems to have an opinion on the Bowl Championship Series, I figured I might as well throw in my two cents.

Even though it is headed to the Rose Bowl to play Southern California and not the national championship game, Michigan still may be the second-best team in the country. I believe the Wolverines would have matched up better with Ohio State than Florida.

Having said that, Florida deserves to be in the title game more than Michigan. The Gators' total body of work is better than Michigan's, if only slightly. Florida played a stronger schedule and went 12-1 in the Southeastern Conference, the nation's toughest league. Michigan did not win its conference. The Wolverines had their shot and lost to Ohio State. It's tough to pick a team that finished second in its league over a conference champion.

True, Michigan had a better loss, if there is such a thing. The Wolverines lost by three points at top-ranked Ohio State, while Florida fell by 10 against Auburn.

However, Florida registered more impressive victories, including a 10-point win over Arkansas in the SEC title game that catapaulted the Gators into the national
championship. Michigan should not be punished because the Big Ten Conference was down this season. It's just that Florida recorded more wins over quality opponents.

Michigan best victories were against Notre Dame and Wisconsin while Florida defeated LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. Edge to the Gators.

The pro-Michigan forces will point out that Florida was not impressive in many of its victories. It is true the Gators struggled at times and some observers might say they didn't generate enough "style points". They still kept winning.

The great failing of the BCS, of course, is having to choose between two worthy teams rather than inviting both to either a four- or eight-team playoff. Really, one could make an argument for either Florida or Michigan to play Ohio State.
According to Vegas oddsmakers, the Wolverines would be a six-point favorite over the Gators.