My plans for Saturday night are set and will not change for any reason. There will be no more “celebration week” and definitely no studying or writing columns on Saturday night.There is only one event that is of the utmost importance, which I am anxiously anticipating along with millions of others.I’m talking about the showdown between LSU and Alabama, the top two ranked teams in the nation. It’s billed as “The Game of the Century” as each team has a perfect season and at this point, has beaten every team they have played with ease.We will get to watch two teams play that are virtually equal in every way.
Alabama was tested the second week of the season in State College, Penn., when they faced home team Penn State.The Tide was leading 17–3 at halftime and went on to win 27–11. The next seven games Alabama has played since then have been won by no fewer than 24 points.
LSU also faced a close call early in the season when they faced home team Miss. State.Lucky for the Tigers, the Bulldogs never got their offense started and LSU squeaked out a 19–6 victory.The Tigers have won every game since then by at least 25 points.Like I said, these teams are freakishly similar.
Tomorrow’s matchup is only the 11th time since 1950 that two top-ranked teams have played in a November or December regular season game.It’s the first time that two SEC teams have played before the conference championship game ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation.The winner of this matchup has played for the SEC championship four of the past six years.Alabama coach Nick Saban previously coached at LSU.No, it’s not a regular game at all.
It’s THE game.
When the schedules were being tweaked for this season, it had to have been known that this game would be huge.How else could it be explained that both teams were off last weekend?Both teams are rested and the bruises are healed.Except for the fact that the game will be played at Alabama’s home field, the playing field is even.LSU was last year’s winner by a score of 24–21.
These teams bring the two top defenses in the nation with neither allowing more than 77 rushing yards per game.Alabama running back Trent Richardson is the clear “alpha dog” for tomorrow’s game. The Heisman hopeful is not likely to produce a whopping 183-yard performance as he did against Ole Miss.
This game will more likely be won by one pass, one score or one turnover.
As far as the quarterbacks go, big-game experience is what puts them apart. Alabama’s AJ McCarron has made some key completions
in games that were close in the first half. He has yet to be tested in a close game situation toward the end of games.LSU’s Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson have more primetime experience.They have both come up with some big plays in past seasons. The LSU defensive line will put the heat on McCarron and he will be tested in dealing with the pressure. We’ll just have to wait and see how well he will handle it.
The Alabama defense has proven itself this year. And although they are talented and fundamentally sound, they haven’t faced Les Miles. What happens when the “mad hatter” digs into his unsual bag of tricks like he did last year, calling the famous fourth-and-one reverse that helped LSU to victory? The Tide defense must be ready for a whole lot of the unexpected.
What could better illustrate the magnitude and hype of tomorrow’s game than the media coverage? Crimson Tide officials anticipate approving approximately 600 media credentials for Saturday’s game. The press box at Bryant-Denny Stadium seats about 150 members of the media. Good luck with that. Ticket prices for the game are as much as $5,000 and celebrity ticket requests are out of control. Some people are saying that the road to this year’s national championship goes through Tuscaloosa. Can’t say I disagree with that. Some are even saying that if the game is a close one, there could be a rematch in the BCS game.
We all know about the quarterback on the West Coast in Palo Alto who won’t let anything get in his way. Likewise for that guy in Boise. And there’s a team in Stillwater, Okla., that continues to score 50 points a game like it’s a walk in the park. The SEC champ down the road will likely be favored over any of them, regardless of how Saturday’s game plays out. But a fourth-quarter comeback or a last-second touchdown may say more about the winner than its previous eight blowouts. I’m taking LSU.
Why? Because Tyrann Mathieu scares me.
