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CFBW: RT @PDBuckeyes: My explanation of why I voted Florida No. 1 ahead on my AP ballot this wek http://t.co/4R9sAx8x
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Florida moved to No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot this week, making me the only voter in the AP or coaches poll to put the Gators ahead of Alabama.
Before the Bama backers start emailing, this is a reversal from the first half of 2009, when most of the country was voting Florida No. 1 but I was one of the few voters to put Alabama in the top spot based on resume.
On that resume voting, the Gators are ahead of Alabama in my opinion, with wins over LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina. I considered making Florida No. 1 last week, but even though the Gators' wins then were also better overall, it wasn't enough to jump an Alabama team that has dominated everyone. Even last week, four of the six BCS computers had Florida ahead of Alabama, and in the overall computer portion of the BCS, Florida was No. 1 and Alabama No. 3.
I vote based on results, but I also leave room for subjectivity. So Alabama held on to No. 1 for me last week.
But Florida 's 44-11 home win over South Carolina on Saturday did the trick. That gave the Gators three wins over very good opponents, while Alabama still has that opening win over Michigan and then blowouts of lesser teams. The Gators didn't do much on offense Saturday, but found a way to control a game with defense and special teams.
Since beating the Wolverines, who are now 5-2 and now ranked No. 20, and a solid Sun Belt team in 5-2 Western Kentucky, Alabama's other
wins are against teams that are a combined 14-21. Overall, the record for Alabama's opponents is 24-25. For Florida's opponents, it's 30-23.
That's not a huge difference, but Florida does have wins over No. 6 LSU, No. 17 South Carolina and No. 22 Texas A&M.
The same reasoning is why I have Kansas State at No. 3 ahead of No. 4 Oregon, because of what I consider a slightly better overall resume so far.
You can only play the teams on your schedule. Both Alabama and Oregon, the top two teams in the overall AP poll, have backloaded schedules.
Alabama's next three games are against No. 13 Mississippi State, No. 6 LSU and No. 22 Texas A&M. Florida meanwhile, after facing No. 12 Georgia next week, has a three-game stretch of Missouri, Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State.
If both Alabama and Florida keep winning, there's a good chance Alabama will move back to No. 1 on my ballot.
Oregon hasn't beaten a team that is currently ranked, but the Ducks have rolled on both sides of the ball. Their last five games include matchups with No. 10 USC, No. 19 Stanford and No. 7 Oregon State.
The Ducks also will have their chance. They could make their own case for No. 1, even if both Florida and Alabama remain undefeated.
But for now, right now, based on the results, I thought the deserving order of the top four was Florida, Alabama, Kansas State and Oregon.
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Florida moved to No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot this week, making me the only voter in the AP or coaches poll to put the Gators ahead of Alabama.
Before the Bama backers start emailing, this is a reversal from the first half of 2009, when most of the country was voting Florida No. 1 but I was one of the few voters to put Alabama in the top spot based on resume.
On that resume voting, the Gators are ahead of Alabama in my opinion, with wins over LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina. I considered making Florida No. 1 last week, but even though the Gators' wins then were also better overall, it wasn't enough to jump an Alabama team that has dominated everyone. Even last week, four of the six BCS computers had Florida ahead of Alabama, and in the overall computer portion of the BCS, Florida was No. 1 and Alabama No. 3.
I vote based on results, but I also leave room for subjectivity. So Alabama held on to No. 1 for me last week.
But Florida 's 44-11 home win over South Carolina on Saturday did the trick. That gave the Gators three wins over very good opponents, while Alabama still has that opening win over Michigan and then blowouts of lesser teams. The Gators didn't do much on offense Saturday, but found a way to control a game with defense and special teams.
Since beating the Wolverines, who are now 5-2 and now ranked No. 20, and a solid Sun Belt team in 5-2 Western Kentucky, Alabama's other
wins are against teams that are a combined 14-21. Overall, the record for Alabama's opponents is 24-25. For Florida's opponents, it's 30-23.
That's not a huge difference, but Florida does have wins over No. 6 LSU, No. 17 South Carolina and No. 22 Texas A&M.
The same reasoning is why I have Kansas State at No. 3 ahead of No. 4 Oregon, because of what I consider a slightly better overall resume so far.
You can only play the teams on your schedule. Both Alabama and Oregon, the top two teams in the overall AP poll, have backloaded schedules.
Alabama's next three games are against No. 13 Mississippi State, No. 6 LSU and No. 22 Texas A&M. Florida meanwhile, after facing No. 12 Georgia next week, has a three-game stretch of Missouri, Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State.
If both Alabama and Florida keep winning, there's a good chance Alabama will move back to No. 1 on my ballot.
Oregon hasn't beaten a team that is currently ranked, but the Ducks have rolled on both sides of the ball. Their last five games include matchups with No. 10 USC, No. 19 Stanford and No. 7 Oregon State.
The Ducks also will have their chance. They could make their own case for No. 1, even if both Florida and Alabama remain undefeated.
But for now, right now, based on the results, I thought the deserving order of the top four was Florida, Alabama, Kansas State and Oregon.
Ray RattoVerified ā<img alt="" src="https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.567420689.0744/pp,650x642-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.u2.jpg" style="width: 75px; height: 100px;" />@</s>RattoCSN 
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