Congratulations to Florida on an SEC East Division title in Jim McElwain’s first year.

That acknowledged, does anybody really want to watch the Gators play in a major bowl game — especially against a team that can muster more than 10 points? Anybody inside or outside of Gator Nation?

Citrus Bowl organizers believed it. And they were right. The New Year’s Day game sold out “almost immediately,” according to bowl officials. Gators fans evidently are willing to make a short drive to Orlando to watch a team that’s been painful to watch since QB Will Grier was caught taking PEDs.

Of course, tens of thousands of Michigan fans are eager to escape the cold and bathe in the sun and enthusiasm Jim Harbaugh has brought to the Wolverines. Michigan sold out — 8,300 bowl tickets were pre-sold — its 10,000-ticket allotment within an hour after they went on sale Monday.

As the SEC’s Citrus Bowl participant, Florida is playing in the conference’s No. 3 slot in the conference rotation, behind only Playoff-bound Alabama and Ole Miss, which is going to the Sugar Bowl.

Though Gators fans will help fill the Citrus Bowl, television viewers might prefer Leonard Fournette and LSU in a matchup of Les Miles against his alma mater, which almost hired him in 2007, according to reports.

Florida is the only SEC underdog in the postseason.

Wouldn’t LSU be a more attractive opponent for the Citrus Bowl to pair against Michigan?

Granted, the Tigers had their problems late in the season, but many of the distractions that plagued them disappeared — at least until next season — when LSU administrators agreed to give Miles another year.

Wouldn’t LSU against Michigan be a more attractive matchup? Florida has three losses. LSU has three losses. At least the Tigers are riding a one-game winning streak.

With Fournette and QB Brandon Harris, who’s not a great passer but far superior to Florida’s Treon Harris, the Tigers have some offensive punch. The Florida offense finished the season with nine points against Vanderbilt, 14 against Florida Atlantic in regulation time and zero against Florida State (the Gators got a safety) before erupting for 15 against Alabama in the SEC title game.