With an overall record of 64-44-3 (59%) we’re looking to pick up two victories tonight and hit our goal of winning 60% of our games as we head into the scond round of the NFL Playoffs. Anybody who watched the first installment of “The Game of the Century” took something different away from it. Personally, I thought Nick Saban played it a little too close to the vest and paid for it when it came time to kick field goals, missing multiple attempts.
Each team had two weeks to prepare for one another the first time around and with more than a month to get ready for this one, neither coach will be surprised by the other choice of play calls.In order to break down this game, we’ll take a look at the most important aspects of winning football and see who has the advantage in each category.
DefenseBoth of these teams have exceptional coordinators, a ton of future NFL personnel and intricate schemes. Bama has given up less than 9 points per game this season while LSU isn’t far behind, allowing a little under 11 ppg. The difference is LSU’s uncanny ability 
to create crucial turnovers at opportune times, demoralizing their opponent more than any team in recent college football history. CBs Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne are future first-rounders and have come up with a few of the most memorable plays of the 2011 season. They frequently capitalize on the pressure provided by their front seven, who also have a bevy of NFL talent. Alabama is no slouch in the turnover or prospect category either though. Led by LB Courtney Upshaw and CB Dre Kirkpatrick -both of whom won’t last past the first round of the NFL Draft if they decide to come out this year- the Crimson Tide is probably a little bit more physical than LSU and are totally comfortable playing a ground and pound type of game. When breaking down these two defenses, it’s important to think about what they’re matched up against as well. even though LSU has gotten more production out of their running backs toward the end of the season, noboyd carrying the ball for the Tigers boast the type of credentials held by Bama RB Trent Richardson. He did work against LSU last time around, to the tune of 169 total yards. I would give a very, very slight edge to Alabama here.
It would have been interesting to see what LSU’s offense would have looked like had Jordan Jefferson not gotten into a bar brawl before the start of the season. Jarrett Lee did an admirable job replacing the big man early in the year but the Tigers’ offense never really struck fear into the hearts of their opponents. While there is no doubt they can score in bunches -especially off turnovers- there is still much to be desired at the quarterback position in Baton Rouge. The thing that separates the two LSU signal callers is Jefferson’s abiulity to break the pocket and make something out of nothing, a skill that separates him from Alabama QB AJ McCarron as well. A lot can be learned in a month on a college campus and hopefully McCarron broke down film and trusts his arm a little more than he did during the first matchup. Since October 8th, McCarron has thrown 12 TDs to only 3 INTs, with one of those coming against LSU. He has thrown for three TDs in each of his last two games and Alabama his efficiency has been outstanding, connecting on 77% of his passes those games. The Tigers will invite him to make throws on Monday Night and one of the most interesting aspects of this game will be whether or not McCarron is allowed to take some shots downfield, a must if you ask me! Again, this is a close call but I’ll take McCarron because he’s avoided the big turnover, has imporved as the season has gone on, is still far from being a finished product and this past month could have made more of a difference for him than any other QB in the BCS era.
Each team has great depth as the skill positions and that can be directly credited to monster recruiting classes throughout each coach’s tenure. Along the lines, it’s a toss-up. Each has done a fantatsic job protecting thier quarterback and have been road graters in the running game, racking up over 2,000 yards on the ground. The Tigers have five backs that have run for over 200 yards but non e that have run for 1,000. Alabama, on the other hand, has the premier running back in college football in Trent Richardson as well as a formidable backup in Eddie Lacy, who’s gained 631 yards on the ground himself. Neither team uses their tight end all that often but Bama’s Brad Smelley came on strong at the end of the year and has been something of a revelation for the Tide. LSU probably has the advantage over Bama in terms of prospects on the outside but they haven’t been any more productive at this level, this year. LSU’s Rueben Randle is the best receiver on either side of the ball and could go over the 1,000-yard mark with a big game tonight. Marquis Maze is a fantastic WR/KR and Bama will make an effort to get the ball into his hands early and often in the Championship Game. Richardson sets the Crimson Tide apart in this category, although it’s close once again.
Based simply on field goals, LSU has a pretty big advantage in this department. Not only are they more efficient, they actually have faith in the kicker, something a lot of fans take for granted far too often. Both teams have explosive return men that can take it to the house but special teams is where depth shines through. A lot of the guys on specials for these teams would be starters on most other D1 teams but are earning their scholarships for a season or a career by flying down the field and ruining the opposition’s day. LSU gets a strong nod here.
Les Miles and Nick Saban each have remarkable resumes to their credit and have done a phenomenal job building the programs they currently run. Miles got some help from Saban to start with but he’s been nothing short of legendary since arriving in Baton Rouge. The media has made way too much out of Miles being the “Mad Hatter” and act like he isn’t a disciple of legendary disciplinarian Bo Schembechler at Michigan. Since coming back to the college game after a debacle with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Saban has taken an Alabama program coming off big-time NCAA issues and has turned them into the powerhouse everyone down south expects them to be. Saban is trying to become the first coach in history to win 3 BCS National Championships while Miles is trying to tie Saban with two. If I was an athletic director and had the pick of the litter in the coaching world, I would confidently hand the keys of my football program over to Nick Saban and let him do what he does. But, for this situation, it’s as much of a dead tie and there could be.
OutlookLSU will have a distinct home field advantage, seeing that this game will be played in New Orleans but I’m taking Alabama and the Over in this game. I think there will be a lot more scoring than people think, based more on good offensive production than defensive breakdowns and it will start early with each team scoring on their opening drive. We’re not going to see anything resembling Baylor-Washington but each team should be in the 20’s when it’s all said and done.
Bama wins their second BCS Championship -Saban wins his third- by a score of 27-23 and we cash in for the final time this year in college football.
Original Story:
