The BCS National Championship Game is not until January 9, 2012, but
that isn’t stopping me from looking forward to November 5. The LSU
Tigers will travel that day to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on The
Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tigers and The Tide are ranked one and two
respectively in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. Both teams have
defenses that are lightning fast and that have neutralized high powered
offenses. Both teams have head coaches in Les Miles (LSU) and Nick Saban
(Alabama) that have won BCS Championships.
CBS is the primary network for The Southeastern Conference and all eyes
will be glued to the television that day. Both teams started off the
season ranked in the top five and each team has solidified those
rankings. LSU started off the season by dispatching an Oregon Duck team
that was fresh off of an appearance in The BCS Championship Game. The
Tigers were able to slow down The Ducks and forced them into numerous
mistakes en route to a 40-27 victory at Cowboys Stadium. The Tigers
opened up conference play by traveling to Starkville, Mississippi to
take on The Mississippi State Bulldogs who won nine games last season
and had hopes of winning The SEC West. The Bulldogs have an offense that
ranks with the best in the country and LSU held them to six points. The
Tigers followed this up by traveling to Morgantown, West Virginia to
take on The West Virginia Mountaineers. It was The Saturday Night
Football game on ABC and the atmosphere was electric. The Tigers went in
and shut down The Mountaineers for a 47-21 triumph. After this win, The
Tigers jumped The Oklahoma Sooners in the rankings and they were the
big dog in the polls.
Alabama has answered the call as well. The Tide went to Happy Valley,
Pennsylvania for their second game and ran roughshod over The Penn State
Nittany Lions for a 27-11 victory. The Tide shut down The Arkansas
Razorbacks who can put up 30 points against a defense by halftime.
Alabama was expected to be a good team this season, but when they went
into Gainesville, Florida last Saturday night and dominated The Florida
Gators for a 38-10 victory, that put everyone in the country on notice
of how good this team is.
This game will come down to the defenses and special teams and I would
not be surprised if the final score was in the teens. Both defenses are
ranked in the top ten in college football. Alabama linebacker Courtney
Upshaw intercepted a pass and ran it back 45 yards for a score last week
against Florida which changed the momentum of the contest. Alabama had
another defensive touchdown versus Arkansas and receiver Marquis Maze
returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in that game as well.
The Tigers counter with play makers on defense in the form of defensive
backs Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne. Mathieu returned a fumble for
a touchdown versus Oregon. Claiborne had one of the biggest plays of
the season for The Tigers. In the game against The Mountaineers, West
Virginia scored to cut LSU’s lead to six at 27-21. Claiborne proceeded
to return the following kickoff for a touchdown and The Tigers never
looked back as the crowd in Morgantown was completely silent with the
exception of those that made the trip from The Bayou.
The winner of this game will more than likely make it to Atlanta for The
SEC Championship Game with hopes of New Orleans Louisiana and The BCS
Championship Game. The loser will still end up in a BCS bowl game. There
will be plenty of NFL talent on the field. Alabama players Trent
Richardson and ‘Dre Kirkpatrick along with LSU’s Morris Claiborne are
expected to be first round picks in April’s NFL Draft. Barring any
setbacks in the next few weeks both teams should come into this game
undefeated and both will be worthy of the hype that will be poured onto
them. For anyone who has the opportunity to watch this game they surely
will not be disappointed.
Leave A Comment