Comparing Columbus and Gainesville before big game

	Brutus the Buckeye and Albert, Florida's mascot, have developed a bit of a rivalry. AP

As exciting as the NCAA tournament is, many of you don't have a particular team to root for tonight. Not me -- I'm still pulling hard for UNC. I think the Tar Heels can still do it.

Really, you can't root for the underdog, since neither team qualifies. Ohio State was the top-ranked team in the last AP poll, but Florida is the reigning champ, beat the pants off of Ohio State earlier this year and embarrassed the Buckeyes in football. (In fact, the only way to make that BCS title game more humiliating was if Florida actually had taken the pants off the Ohio State team.)

Unless you have some sort of association with Ohio State or Florida or a very good bracket, the game tonight doesn't mean much to you.

So I've conducted a quick showdown between Columbus, Ohio, and Gainesville, Fla., to help you pick a winner.

Columbus is named for explorer Christopher Columbus, who discovered America centuries after other people already had. Gainesville is named for General Edmund P. Gaines, commander of U.S. troops during the second Seminole War. No wonder Gator fans hate the Florida State Seminoles. Columbus is named for someone who gives us a Monday off each year, and Gainesville is named for someone who fought so valiantly, most of us have never even heard of his war.
Advantage: Ohio State

Ohio State's mascot is a buckeye, the state tree. A buckeye tree produces acorns, also known as buckeyes (real creative, guys). So your mascot is the state nut (no, not Pete Rose). Florida's mascot is simply the gator, the state animal that can rip your face off.
Advantage: Florida

Comedian Dave Chappelle lives on a farm outside Columbus, and routinely performs unannounced in and around the city. Gainesville's favorite comedian? Sanford's own Larry the Cable Guy.
Advantage: Ohio State. By a lot.