"Gator Nation"

What has changed in the past two weeks. No, check that, what has changed in the past week?

A week ago the situation was simple: Either USC wins and faces Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8; or USC somehow loses to UCLA and Michigan faces the Buckeyes in a rematch of their Nov. 18 epic.

Not anymore. Suddenly, after Florida's not-so-impressive 38-28 win over Arkansas in the SEC title game - combined, of course, with UCLA's 13-9 shocker over the Trojans -the Gators have as good a chance as Michigan to play the Buckeyes.

A week ago close to no one said the Gators had a chance. Some media members said they had a "slim chance." Not anymore. BCS experts are picking the Gators to hop Michigan in the computer polls, and they say that Florida does not have finish ahead of the Wolverines in the Harris Poll and Coaches' Poll - they just need to improve their standing.

I'm not disagreeing with any of these experts. I'm just trying to figure out how in the course of a week the Gators suddenly are right in the thick of things to get that spot in the title game.

Several columnists seem to have jumped on the Gators' bandwagon, making their case for a Florida-Ohio State title game (which is eerily similar to media members vouching for Nebraska to share a piece of the national title with Michigan in 1997-98 after their Orange Bowl victory). Maybe they're SEC sympathisers who can't stand the thought of the conference being on the wrong side of another BCS controversy - undefeated Auburn missed out on the title game two years ago. Or maybe they saw something in the SEC title game that convinced them the Gators deserve the shot.

But all that should matter is this: Which is the better team - Michigan or Florida?

That's what the BCS' job is, right? To pit No. 1 against No. 2. Not to pit two conference champions against each other. Not to pit teams from the top two conferences. Just No. 1 against No. 2.

And this year, more than others, it's difficult to pick No. 2. But if voters were with Michigan one week ago, there should be no reason for them to switch sides now. Florida beat a 10-3 Arkansas team got slaughtered by USC that lost to UCLA. Florida got a big break when an Arkansas punt returner fumbled on his own 5-yard line and the Gators recovered in the end zone.

It was not that impressive of a victory - not enough to change voters' minds.

Let's face it: Teams that play deeper into November and even into December have a huge advantage when it comes to influencing voters, columnists, pundits, etc. No one remembers Michigan's blowout victory on the road at South Bend. All they can say is that Notre Dame is grossly overrated, which may be the case - but that doesn't diminish how impressive the win was at the time. And, of course, no one remembers Florida's lone loss of the year to Auburn - a good SEC team, but not great.

All most people remember about Michigan is its last game of the season - the 42-39 loss to Ohio State. And when it comes to Florida, most people are thinking about what they saw last night - a win over a Top 10 team.

Advantage Florida.

As many columnists have pointed out, Florida played the tougher schedule, Florida beat more ranked opponents, yada, yada, yada.

That's all true.

But... is Florida the better team? If the Gators and Wolverines lined up right now, who would come out on top? That team should be playing in Glendale.

Forget everything else. Forget that Michigan didn't win its conference. Florida would have suffered the same fate if it was in the Big Ten. Forget that it'd be the dreaded word... a rematch. Forget all that.

None of it matters. If I was a voter, I'd look at both team's entire seasons - not just the past three weeks. I'd look at their wins, I'd look at their losses, then I'd ask myself the question: Who's better?

And by the slimmest of slim margins, I'd choose Michigan.

'Nuff said.