Addressing those questions in order, this has been one heckuva year for L.S.U. Certainly the best year in recent memory, and quite possibly the best of all time. If L.S.U. wins tonight, they would have beaten nine top 25 teams in 14 games. Four of those games would have been against top 3 teams. They have already beaten 6 bowl game winners, including the winners of the Rose, Sugar, and Cotton Bowls (which some say are the 3 of the 4 best bowl games out there). I honestly don't see any reason for them to slow down now. They have a killer defense and a coach who is willing to take big risks. If they win tonight they will be, in my humble opinion, the best college football team ever.
Do the Crimson Tide really deserve to even be playing against L.S.U. for the title a mulligan of the proclaimed "Game of the Century"? Nick Saban has been unofficially quoted as saying, "Anyone who doesn't win their conference has no business playing in the National Championship game." That quote may or may not be real, even though it's not a stretch of the imagination to picture the weasel of a coach saying something along those lines. 'Bama already lost to the Tigers on their home field, and couldn't manage to score a touchdown on the maniac L.S.U. defense. They didn't win their conference, or their division. Heck they didn't even finish second in their conference. Now you tell me if that sounds like a team that deserves a rematch.
Nick Saban wishes he was as cool as Vader. I just thought this picture was funny.
Let's assume 1 loss Alabama does in fact pull out the upset. That would leave us with no undefeated teams, and a leave Alabama with a lot of company in the loss department. This raises the very question that the whole B.C.S. is supposed to eliminate, "Should we have split champions?" Undoubtedly the best 1 loss team that didn't play in the National Championship is Oklahoma State. With a resume of five victories against teams in the top 25, and one loss (which came the day after a tragic accident in the school's athletic program, and happened on the road in 2OT), and 1 conference championship under it's belt, it seems pretty difficult to deny the Cowboys their due. 'Bama has less wins against top 25 teams, a loss on their home field, no conference or division title to their name. I'm still waiting to hear a decent argument as to why Ok. St. doesn't deserve a split title.
Last time these two teams met it was a 9-6 overtime shootout in Tuscaloosa. Are we in for a more entertaining/higher scoring affair tonight? Yes. Both teams have had a while to practice and prepare for each other, and a lot of time to practice trick plays which bowl games tend to highlight. That's not mentioning "The Mad Hatter" and his aggressive play calling either. Both teams will want to jump out to an early lead, so look for some big shots early on. Don't count out a defensive score either.
If you woke up today and couldn't figure out a team to cheer for (as so many find it difficult to do with the S.E.C. and with this game in particular) than here are a few things to take into account. Nick Saban is public enemy #1 in the great state of Louisiana. He was the head coach of the Tigers and led them to the 2003 B.C.S. title, and quickly bolted for a higher paying/more prestigious job opportunity in the N.F.L. with the Miami Dolphins. That doesn't sit right with L.S.U. fans. Neither does the fact that he left the Dolphins after a losing season, to take over at a division rival, and one of the most hated programs in the S.E.C. He reportedly lied to the Dolphins saying he wasn't interested in coaching Alabama or any other team. (When he left the Dolphins he didn't personally address his players and fellow coaches. He contacted them over a conference call.) If you're a B.C.S. hater, you might find yourself cheering for Alabama (or against L.S.U., however you may look at it). Having another split national title will only cause a strong uprising and argument against the so called "perfect system". Oklahoma State fans will be donning their finest crimson tonight.
The game will be played in New Orleans, Louisiana (a city that is quickly becoming a football hotspot), which is a convenient 80 mile drive for Tiger fans. L.S.U. already has some swag heading into the game with the knowledge that it beat Alabama on it's home turf. 'Bama is playing with a bit of a chip on it's shoulder trying to prove that it belongs and that it deserves the crystal football. All things considered, I believe that L.S.U. will win tonight. It won't be a shootout that many want, but sparingly expect, but the result will be a positive one for Tiger fans everywhere. L.S.U. 24 Alabama 14
Geaux Tigers
