ATLANTA -- The Florida Gators won one championship and made a strong case for another one Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.

But an opportunity for a national title is out of their hands. It's up to the voters and computers, whose combined efforts will give us the final Bowl Championship Series standings today.

The fourth-ranked Gators did their part with a 38-28 victory over Arkansas in the SEC championship game. Their victory came a couple of hours after UCLA upset No. 2 Southern Cal.

Coming from behind against the Razorbacks will be easier than coming from behind against third-ranked Michigan, whose only loss was by three points to No. 1 Ohio State. But Florida coach Urban Meyer was optimistic about the second comeback.

"I have great confidence the University of Florida will get that opportunity (to play for the national title)," Meyer said at the post-game press conference.

"We deserve a shot. Another team (Michigan) had a shot. I think the country wants to see the Southeastern Conference champion against the Big Ten champion (Ohio State)."

He might be overly optimistic in that regard, but he had plenty of supporters in the Georgia Dome. After all, this is family.

"I'm always for our conference," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "I wish (the Gators) all the best and hope they have the opportunity to play for the championship."

SEC commissioner Mike Slive weighed in on the subject at halftime.

"As commissioner of the SEC, I would be disappointed (if Florida won the SEC title and didn't get to play for the national title)," Slive said. "I think a one- or two-loss SEC champion deserves a chance to play for it."

More than an hour after the game, another Florida supporter was soliciting support outside the Georgia Dome press box.

"Michigan had its chance," the Florida fan screamed again and again.

And when she sobers up, she'll probably still feel that way.

The voters are a different matter. For Florida to move ahead of Michigan, Top 25 voters will have to change their minds based on one victory.

The Gators could have made it easier for the voters if they had finished what they started. Not only did they lead 17-0 late in the first half, but Arkansas star running back Darren McFadden had been slowed by an ankle injury early in the second quarter.

But the Razorbacks turned the game topsy-turvy on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Casey Dick to Marcus Monk with 1:55 left in the half, and two touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the third quarter.

Arkansas overcame Florida's first assault, but not its second. A muffed punt by Reggie Fish gave Florida one touchdown, and championship-game MVP Percy Harvin followed with a 67-yard run for his second touchdown of the game.

The Gators scored enough to win. They didn't tack on any style points.

They rarely do.

Florida didn't score more than 28 points in any SEC regular-season game. Four of their last five regular-season victories were by seven points or fewer.

No wonder, Meyer hates the words, "style points."

"I'm not too concerned about style points," he said. "I'm concerned about 21 seniors playing their hearts out and finding a way to win 12 games in the No. 1 conference against the most difficult schedule in America."

Sure, he's prejudiced. But he's also right.

Forget the narrow victories. Consider the degree of difficulty.

After Georgia Tech's loss Saturday, Georgia likely will move into the top 25. That would make Florida 4-1 against top-25 teams. By comparison, Michigan is 2-1, and Ohio State is 2-0 against top-25 teams.

Florida also is 9-1 against teams that are bowl-eligible and is 5-1 against teams that have won eight or more games.

Voters shouldn't move Florida ahead of Michigan to avoid an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the national title. They should do it based on what the Gators have accomplished in the best conference in the country.