The Monday night BCS National Championship contest is an SEC rematch between LSU and Alabama; and SportsOptions.com offers up a brief look at the players, team stats and some unique trends.
ALABAMA vs. LSU (+1, 40) – BCS National Championship - Superdome – New Orleans, LA
Alabama (11-1 SU/8-4 ATS) will play LSU in the national championship game despite already losing to the Tigers in a 9-6 OT setback earlier this season. The loss appeared to put an end to Alabama’s hopes of a second national championship in three years, but the Tide bounced back with three convincing wins and edged Oklahoma State by a .0086 margin in the BCS standings to earn a spot in the title game. While some argued the 11-1 Cowboys deserved the trip to the Superdome, this matchup seems appropriate considering Alabama was the only team not to lose to LSU by at least 13 points. The Tigers limited Heisman Trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner Trent Richardson to 89 yards in the first meeting, but they could have their hands full as Richardson ran for 505 yards in the last three games, including 203 yards against Auburn – as Alabama outscored those opponents 111-42. The junior was sixth in the country with 1,583 rushing yards and fifth with 20 TDs on the ground. He also had three touchdown receptions and 327 yards receiving. QB A.J. McCarron comlpeted 16-of-28 passes for 199 yards in the first meeting with LSU, getting sacked twice and intercepted once. Bama averages 433 ypg on offense (# 30) and never scored less than 24 points all year aside from the LSU game. The defense led the nation, allowing 191 ypg and 8.8 points per game.
LSU (13-0 SU/10-3 ATS) closed out a perfect regular season with a 42-10 drubbing of Georgia in the SEC Title game. The Tigers proved to be the dominant team in college football this season, using their versatile offense and overpowering defense to roll over opponents – except for Alabama. LSU QBs Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee split time this season and combined for nearly 2,000 passing yards and 20 TDs while capably directing a ground attack that averaged 215.2 yards (17th in the nation). Jefferson, who is expected to start this game, was suspended four games for his role in a bar brawl in August. He ended up rushing for 309 yards, making him one of five Tigers to gain more than 300 on the ground. LSU’s ground game was led by Michael Ford (767) and Spencer Ware (720). The offense put up just 375 ypg (# 75), but the Tigers rank 12th in the country in scoring. LSU became the first school with two first-team All-American cornerbacks in Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne. Mathieu’s performance made him a Heisman Trophy finalist after he emerged as perhaps the most dynamic all-around player in the country. He had two interceptions and forced six fumbles for an LSU team that led the country in turnover margin at 1.69 per game and ranked 2nd overall in total defense (252 ypg). The sophomore was even more spectacular as a punt returner, tying for the FBS lead with 16.2 yards per return. Both teams are making their second appearance in the BCS National Championship Game. Alabama defeated Texas, 37-21, in 2010, while LSU beat Ohio State 38-24 in the 2008 game also played in New Orleans. LSU has played in 43 bowl games, compiling a record of 23-19-1. Alabama has played in more bowl games (59) and earned more bowl wins (32) than any school in college football history. The Crimson Tide have posted a 32-22-3 all-time bowl record. Alabama will be making its fifth consecutive bowl appearance under head coach Nick Saban and the eighth straight for the school. Saban is 3-1 in bowl games at Alabama, defeating Michigan State in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Texas in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game and Colorado in the 2007 Independence Bowl. The Tide’s lone bowl loss under Saban came in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah. Alabama leads the all-time series with LSU 45-25-5 in a rivalry that dates to 1895. The last five matchups have been decided by nine or fewer points. The “over” is 14-8 in LSU and Alabama’s last 22 games combined and both teams moved the ball in the first meeting, settling for FGs instead of TDs in the redzone. We feel that first meeting was somewhat of an anomaly and expect much more scoring this time around. After all, ‘Bama averaged 36 ppg (#16) and LSU put up 38 ppg (#12); and all things considered, the total is relatively low for this game.
Go “over” the total……
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