Alabama Gets Second Shot At LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers would never admit it, but the last team they want to face in the BCS title game on Monday, January 9 is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Don Best has the college football odds and LSU is a somewhat surprising 1-point underdog with a total of 40 points.

ESPN will broadcast at 8:30 p.m. (ET) from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The one thing for certain is an SEC school will win the national title for the sixth straight year.

LSU thought it ended Alabama’s title hopes with a 9-6 OT road win in Tuscaloosa back on November 5. That was the first regular season clash between No. 1 and No. 2 since 2006. However, the Crimson Tide won their final three games and got huge help with losses by Stanford and Oklahoma State, just sneaking past the latter to make this game.

Coach Les Miles is saying all the right things about looking forward to playing Alabama again, but a lie-detector test would surely prove otherwise. LSU would have preferred an offensive juggernaut like Oklahoma State, which beat Stanford in a wild 41-38 OT Fiesta Bowl, rather than play a mirror image of itself in 'Bama.

The Tigers (13-0 SU, 10-3 ATS) have been the unanimous No. 1 team in the country since back in late October. The have taken on all comers, starting with then No. 3 Oregon in a neutral site contest on Sept. 3, playing eight top-25 teams in all.

LSU ranks 12th in the country in scoring offense (38.5 PPG) and second in defense (10.5 PPG). It tends to wear teams down, outscoring Arkansas and Georgia by a combined 55-3 the last two second halves. The only two times the Tigers have been held under 35 points overall was the Alabama game and a 19-6 win at Mississippi State back in September.

Miles is an extremely aggressive coach on the field and isn’t afraid to shake thing up personnel wise. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson replaced fellow senior Jarrett Lee in the second half of the Alabama game after Lee threw two picks. Jefferson was then the starter for the final four contests.

Jefferson only averaged 15.8 pass attempts the final four games, but he’ll have to put it up more here if Alabama controls the running game. Jefferson has just one pick in 83 attempts and has a great target in receiver Rueben Randle (904 yards). Jefferson is also a very good runner, unlike Lee, and will use his legs to pick up first downs.

Special teams are also a huge part of LSU’s attack with cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne extremely dangerous in punt and kick returns respectively.

LSU has a stable of running backs with Michael Ford (755 yards), Spencer Ware (700), Alfred Blue (539) and Kenny Hilliard (320) all having their own style and Miles not afraid to use any.

The Crimson Tide (11-1 SU, 8-4 ATS) know they’re very fortunate to be here, not even having to play in a conference title game. The fact they’re a small favorite points to the fact it’s very hard to beat a team of their caliber twice in one season.

Alabama’s offense scores 36 PPG (ranked 16th) and the defense is tops nationally in both points (8.8 PPG) and yards allowed (191.2 YPG). The second figure is 60.8 YPG less than LSU and the unit boasts four, first- and second-team AP All-Americans in linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, safety Mark Barron and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

Coach Nick Saban wants to rely on his defense and running game. Junior Trent Richardson has rushed for 1,583 yards, including 505 over his final three games. He was held to just 89 yards on 23 attempts (3.9 average) in the first meeting and will be looking to atone in surely his final game before turning pro.

Sophomore quarterback A.J. McCarron went 16-of-28 for 199 yards in the first game, but had a key interception and couldn’t get his team into the end zone. This is his chance to step up on the biggest of stages.

Saban’s biggest worry this week could be kicking game. 'Bama missed four field goals against LSU, all of which were 44 yards or more. He may have to take some chances on fourth down to get some closer kicks.

The Don Best Linemakers Poll has LSU as the No. 1 team like everyone else. The 124.0 ranking gives it an edge over No. 2 Alabama (122.7).

Alabama is looking for its 14th national title, the last in 2009 under Saban. LSU is going for a fourth championship, winning in 2007 under Miles and 2003 when Saban was the leader in Baton Rouge.

LSU is 5-1 ATS in its last six bowl games. The ‘over’ is 5-0 in Alabama’s last five bowls.

Weather will not be an issue playing in the dome.