Florida vs. Ohio State: More of the Same in the NCAA

Maybe there's something in the water in Gainesville and Columbus.

Maybe the Kool-Aid man's "Oh YEAH!" is extra-strong in booster meetings at Florida University and Ohio State.

Whatever the case, the fact is that the Gators and the Buckeyes are set to meet in a national championship game for the second time in less than three months.

Great news if you're a fan of white-chalk brackets and blue-chip recruits. Not so great if you're into parity and stories of underdogs done good.

In collegiate sports, most showdowns between the country's top teams result in Instant Classics. That's why the BCS was established in the first place: In the much-disdained ranking system, the NCAA believes it has found the key to consistently producing "wide-rights," "Hail Mary's," and "Boise State-Okla..."

Well, no need to mention that last one.

Still, you get the idea: The NCAA wanted (and wants) to give fans the best games, sponsors more reason to shell out millions for ad rights, and Vegas all types of fits. (Those reasons aren't listed in any particular order, by the way).

That all makes sense from the business side of the ball. At the same time, though, this is a country where the underdog reigns supreme, and Americans are just as intrigued by a Cinderella getting to the big dance as they are by two evil stepsisters having a "walk-it-out" contest.

Nowhere is that more true than in college basketball. From Villanova to Valparaiso, NC State to George Mason—the calling card of March Madness is the potential for talent to be trumped by hustle. A team with nothing to lose and some decent three-point shooters can be as lethal as an All-Star Weekend on the Strip.

Which brings me to Monday's game. Florida is the defending champion—and though their run this season hasn't been as convincing as last year's, the Gators are clearly the best team in the country. They've got their entire championship squad intact, with a year of experience behind them and a bull's-eye on their chests. The youthful but extraordinarily talented Ohio State team, on the other hand, brings poise from key freshmen and a knack for playing to expectations. 

But there's no guarantee that Monday night's matchup with will be the classic that everyone's hoping for. In fact, it might very well turn out to be a shellacking on par with the BCS title game. And where's the sexy in that? Where's the thrill? Put it this way: It's not a good thing if Luther Vandross' "One Shining Moment" comes off looking more like George Clinton's "Flashlight." 

My fiancé, who's a doctoral student in clinical psychology, has a saying that sums it up perfectly: "It's not the result, it's the process." 

You can't take this game or the season away from OSU and UF—but nor can you deny that these two programs, at least in the last two years, have taken the magical process and upset potential out of college sports. 

And there's no sign they'll be giving it back anytime soon.