The College Bowl/Bowl Championship Series draws to a close tomorrow in Baton Rouge, as number-one-ranked Louisiana State University goes head to head with number two Alabama.
It’s a rematch of their November 5 “Game of the Century” touchdown-less epic, in which the Tigers travelled to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Alabama and defeated the Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime, in front of 101,821 fans.
LSU has stopped everyone in their tracks this year, including not only that win on the road against Alabama, but also beating Oregon (Rose Bowl champions), West Virginia (Orange Bowl champions) and the Arkansas Razorbacks (Cotton Bowl champions).
As always, there was talk of who should or shouldn’t be in this game. Many claim the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl champions Oklahoma State, who defeated Stanford and who include projected number one draft pick Andrew Luck, were more deserving.
LSU and the Tide are mirror images of each other. Both teams come from the same conference, the SEC, and the same division, in addition to competing for the same high-school talent (read Gunner Kiel). In their past four meetings, each has walked off the field with two victories. Alabama won 27-21 in overtime in 2008, and 24-15 in 2009 before, LSU won 23-21 in 2010 before the overtime triumph this year.
Both teams are defensive stoppers, simple as that. The Crimson Tide lead all teams in total defence (191.25 ypg) while LSU ranks second in the nation (252.08 ypg). Look at the other stats and you will see what I mean when I talk about the mirror effect.
Alabama is 71st in passing yards, 14th in rushing yards, and 17th in points for (36 ppg) and first overall in points against allowing their opponents only 8.8 ppg.
LSU is 105th in passing yards, 17th in rushing yards, 12th in points for (38.5 ppg) and second overall in points against (10.5 ppg).
Further, the Tigers and the Tide easily put away number 24 Auburn, number 12 Florida and number 14 Arkansas during the season.
This is why LSU wins.
The Tigers have a superior special teams outfit. They beat Alabama in their own backyard (a game the Tide should’ve won). LSU has continued to improve each and every time it takes to the playing arena. They play in Baton Rouge and in front of a loud, intense and passionate LSU-heavy crowd.
What’s more, they have a quarterback in Jordan Jefferson who in far more comfortable now with his fellow Tigers after being suspended before the season commenced, plus they have a Heisman Trophy finalist in CB Tyrann Mathieu.
This is an unprecedented rematch in the BCS game, and it is sure to be another Tiger-Crimson Tide thriller.
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