Preview: 2012
BCS National Championship 6th edition “The Rematch”
Date/Time:
January 9, 2012 8:30 PM (EST)
LSU Tigers
(13-0) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) Favorite: Alabama by 1
All-Time
Series: Alabama 45-25-5 Last: November 5, 2011
(LSU, 9-6 F/OT @ Alabama)
Boomer’s Four
Keys to raising the “crystal” football:
1)
Jordan
Jefferson vs. AJ McCarron
In
a game, in which points will be at a minimum, I look towards the two QB’s
coming up with a play or two and not putting their “stud” defenses in bad
position with a turnover (INT or fumble). Jordan Jefferson, has had an unusual
path to the National Championship Game (suspended 1st four Regular
Season games), how he is still on the LSU team is another story for itself. Jefferson
shared duties with back-up Jared Lee on his return and didn’t really take over
until Lee, was benched ironically, in the 1st meeting against
Alabama. Jefferson hasn’t really been called to make any big plays, so it will
be interesting to see if Coach Miles opens up the playbook or if he relies on
the defense and/or special teams in this one. On the other side, you could say
the same thing about Alabama’s starting (1st year) QB AJ McCannon.
In the first meeting, McCannon did have 199 passing yards against the Tigers
defense, but failed to complete a pass over 20 yards (completed a 39 yarder to
RB Trent Richardson, that Richardson used his legs more to pick up the yards then
McCannon throwing it downfield). McCannon has to find someway to score a touchdown
(or two) and help out his “monster” defense. Like Jefferson, we will see if
McCannon can make a play against the Tigers’ (NFL like) defense. Advantage: Toss-Up
2)
Running
Backs vs. “Defense”
With
both defenses wearing their big boy pants all season (#1 and #2 defenses in the
nation), The running games of both sides could play a key factor in this one. I
want to first talk about LSU’s “rotation” of RB’s, with four guys rushing for
at least 300 yards (755, 700, 539, 320) this season, the Tigers’ haven’t had to
rely on just one guy to run the ball for them. Going up against the Tide’s
defense 1st in the nation in rushing (75 yards/game), we will see if
LSU uses the rotation of back’s or if they ride the hot hand if one of the RB’s
has a quick start. Alabama, on the other hand, features Heisman candidate Trent
Richardson (1,910 offensive total yards and 23 total TD’s) as their #1 RB to
carry or catch the ball. In the first meeting, Richardson had 169 total
offensive yards, but failed to score a TD against the Tigers’ defense (the only
game all season that happened). I want to see if Richardson can have that
“big-play” and find the end zone in this meeting. Advantage: Alabama
3)
Alabama’s
Special Teams vs. LSU’s Special Teams
The
only way points were scored in the first meeting (LSU’s 3 FG’s, Alabama 2
FG’s), it might be another game where the special teams is counted on to put
points up on the scoreboard. After watching the first meeting, it had to be a
downer for Alabama, missing FOUR FG’s (lose games kicking FG’s, non the less
when you miss them). LSU has been successful in both the punting (43 yards
per/punt) and the return game (notability the last two games, see Tyrann
Mathieu). The game might not have much offensive production, so it will be
interesting to see if either teams ST units can come up with a score or
“big-play”. Advantage: LSU
4)
Les
Miles vs. Nick Saban
Two
of the most successful coaches in Division 1 FBS football right now, will go
head-to-head (Miles leads 3-2 in the series) one more time for all the marbles
(even though some of the AP voters will vote LSU #1 even if they lose, again
another story in itself). Les Miles has had some good success after taking over
the program from, you guessed it Nick Saban (75-17, 1 National Championship,
Miles record at LSU). Nick Saban has got the Alabama program back to where it
was during the Paul “Bear” Bryant days, going 54-12, with 1 National
Championship. This will mark the 2nd time each Head Coach has
coached in the BCS National Championship Game (Miles,
2008 & Saban, 2010). Whichever, coach can figure out ways to score besides
FG’s will have the advantage in this one. Advantage:
Toss-Up
In the end,
it should be a good game to watch (if you like defense) with plenty of guys
that will be playing football on Sunday’s in the near future.
Prediction: Alabama 17, LSU 10. Roll
Tide!
(Check out
our “2012 BOLD PREDICTIONS” for more on this match-up.
