Poll: Dolphins Top Pick For Floridians Favorite NFL Team
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Pollsters typically look at the latest political questions and candidates. While the latest Public Policy Polling poll from Florida did that, it also took a look at the issues of sports loyalty in the state and the results might surprise you.
According to the poll, out of the seven Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams in the state, Floridians prefer the University of Florida first and the Florida State Seminoles a close second. Coming in third is the University of Miami Hurricanes followed by UCF, South Florida, and a tie with FIU and FAU.
When asked what they thought of Gators head coach Will Muschamp's job performance, 46 percent approved while 14 percent disapproved. FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher received a 56 percent approval rating with a 1 percent disapproval rating and 44 percent not sure.
The coach with the highest approval rating was University of Miami head coach Al Golden who received a 58 percent approval rating compared to a 13 percent disapproval rating and 29 percent unsure of what they thought of Golden.
Moving to Major League Baseball, while the Tampa Bay Rays have made the playoffs; they are not the most popular MLB team in the state of Florida. Instead it's the Atlanta Braves who were picked by 22 percent of those surveyed. The Rays were second followed by the Marlins, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, and Phillies.
But when it comes to the NFL, there's one team all alone at the top of the list. The Miami Dolphins were overwhelmingly picked as the favorite team by 21 percent of those surveyed. Fifteen percent chose the Buccaneers while 7 percent picked the Patriots and six percent picked the Cowboys, Packers, and Jaguars.
Interestingly, the Dolphins were picked by 20 percent of Florida Democrats, 20 percent of Florida Republicans, and 24 percent of independent voters, a truly bipartisan pick.
