Florida Football: Hater’s guide for Gator fans watching the CFB playoffs

Nov 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy at CFP press conference at Banc of California Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy at CFP press conference at Banc of California Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The playoffs for college football have finally arrived and because the NCAA doesn’t know what they are doing they have insisted that these games be played on New Year’s Eve. Obviously Florida football is not in either of these games, so if you are young and outgoing and attending a New Year’s Party you don’t have to stress over the most important game of the year while Auld Lang Syne plays in the background.

But if you are like me and have a toddler at home and a pregnant wife and won’t be hitting up any parties this year because you’ll be asleep by 9:30 anyway because you are exhausted from the toddler, then having the playoffs on New Year’s Eve is actually great.

The problem is knowing who to root for in these games, so we here at Hail Florida Hail are here to guide you with what rooting interest you should have.

Florida Football: Hater’s guide to Michigan vs TCU

This seems like it should be a slam dunk. Nobody actually likes Michigan, the team or the state. The Big House is as bland of a stadium as there is in America and Jim Harbaugh is kind of weird. The Big 10 is why the playoffs are even on New Year’s Eve because they can’t let go of their precious Rose Bowl time slot.

Plus all these people from Michigan have moved down to Florida and it’s really just driving up property values and making our roads congested. Every time the Detroit Red Wings play the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, I mentally prepare myself to deal with their obnoxiousness.

TCU is the underdog, out to prove they deserve a spot in the playoffs and prove they didn’t steal a spot from Alabama. It’s a harmless program in the college football landscape. Their talent composite was 32nd this year, behind teams like Georgia Tech and Stanford. This may be the last great shot they ever get.

So who should Florida football fans root for?

Michigan.

Wait what?!?!

It’s actually simple. TCU lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 Title Game. Kansas State lost to Tulane during non-conference play.

Guess who Tulane lost to this year and who is licking their lips ready to claim a national title if TCU goes all the way?

UCF beat Tulane this year, and because Space Coast U, even though it’s still an hour from the space coast, needs something to chirp about I guarantee they will pick up on this fact and run with it.

Go Big Blue.

Florida Football: Hater’s guide to Georgia vs Ohio State

I’ve never liked Ohio State. Much like Michigan it’s a program that stays relevant because there are three good teams in the Big Ten. And every year we do this song and dance where we hype up Ohio State and the moment they play a team with speed they get embarrassed.

Like Florida football was supposed to get smacked by Ohio State in the national title game and it turned into snooze fest for casual fans.

Urban Meyer magically showed up there one year after retiring from .

The list goes on and on and it’s what makes this game impossible to root for because on the other end is Georgia.

You may be of the mindset that come bowl season you are an SEC fan no matter who is playing. I understand where that mindset comes from, but there is zero circumstances a Florida football fan should want Georgia to win this game.

Ohio State isn’t beating out Florida for recruits. We’re taking their recruits back if anything. As painful as this is to admit, Georgia is the alpha dog for now. Another national title only keeps their machine rolling. Another national title only keeps their fans barking.

If the title game is between Ohio State and Michigan, great. It won’t require Florida fans to have to hear it for another year.

So swallow your pride and root for Ohio State tonight.

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