Florida's margin of victory is 17.4 in their 11 wins, skewed by a 38-0 blowout against 2-10 Kentucky and a rare 5 turnover game by South Carolina with lead to a 44-11 rout. Take away those two games, Florida's margin of victory is 11.4 against the likes of Florida St, Jacksonville St, Lafayette, Missouri, Vanderbilt, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Bowling Green.
Besides the fact that Florida is a big time college program in the top conference in college football, what reasoning is their to think they can cover the 14 besides saying, they are more physical, stronger, faster, Louisville hasn't played a team like them. I don't see any reason to back the #3 team in the land, this is public perception.
Why is SEC the top conference? Because there is more 10 win teams than other conferences? Maybe the conference is just top heavy while other conferences are balanced? Their record is determined mostly within the division besides the 2-3 free wins they get by playing bottom feeders of Non AQ conferences / D2 programs. Step up SEC, play at least the best in the NON AQ conferences or another big time football program. Michigan St played Boise St, Notre Dame, CMU, going 2-1. They went 4-5 inside the Big 10.
10-2 Northwestern beat 8-4 Mississippi St
10-2 Clemson beat 10-2 LSU
8-4 Vandy beat 6-6 NC ST
10-2 South Carolina squeeked by 8-4 Michigan
11-2 Georgia escaped 10-3 Nebraska.
If Michigan didn't leave that WR wide open, they probably would of won the the game against South Carolina. Who is to say that they would beat Ohio St, Penn St, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern or Michigan St if they were in the Big 10. They barely beat Michigan and all these teams are as good, if not better than Michigan. Am I suggesting that South Carolina would of lost to ALL of these teams, no. But I am saying, that maybe they finish 9-3/8-4 or something.
South Carolina has a 10-2 record prior to bowl game. They played against Wofford, UAB, ECU??? Florida, LSU, Georgia are extremely tough games. Besides Vanderbilt, nothing else is even really a game. Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas. Clemson is a good game. 4 tough games and 1 mediocre against Vandy.
Some will say, Florida beat South Carolina. But Georgia beat Florida and South Carolina routed Georgia.
The same Georgia team that beat Florida was tied 31-31 going into the 4th against Nebraska.
You look at Alabama, who did they play in the season prior to SEC championship? Michigan, LSU and lost to Texas A&M?
LSU played Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida (one of the toughest if not toughest schedules) but they also played North Texas, Idaho and Washington in their Non Conference games. They lost to Clemson.
Florida beat Florida St, South Carolina, LSU, Texas A&M, and lost to Georgia. 4-1, impressive. Even if they went 3-2, you would still finish 10-2 because the quality of the competition in the other games shouldn't be close, yet it still is with Florida.