Rematch!
If familiarity breeds contempt, then this should be a FUN game.
Sequels are normally not as good as the original, but the BCS National Title game should buck that trend. It’s hard not to when you’re talking about a 9-6 defensive struggle in the first matchup. That first game was like the first round of a heavyweight fight, both contenders feeling each other out. This time around, I expect both coaches to open the game up a bit. After all, there’s no redo for this one.
The most obvious thing you can gleam from the Nov 5th matchup is that these teams like to hit, and hit hard. Neither team ran the ball very well. The passing was pretty vanilla, and each defense forced a couple of turnovers. The difference was my least favorite of positions on the field, the kicker. The Tide kickers were a combined 2-6. Les miles said to expect some “big boy football” and I’ll be extremely disappointed if we don’t get just that. The question that will need to be answered on Monday Night is who can impose their will on the other?
For LSU, their modus operandi is to make their opponent play inefficient football. They are tops in the country in turnover margin. The main culprit in taking the ball away is The Honey Badger, all-everything defensive back, Tyrann Mathieu. All he did this year was pick off 4 passes, recover 6 fumbles, and score 4 touchdowns. He is the heart and soul of the Tigers defense and if the Tide is to roll, they must control him. Offensively, look for the Tigers to take advantage of the option game. The safeties for Alabama like to move around and the shifting often leaves and advantage for teams looking to run the speed option, perfect for Jordan Jefferson and crew. If the Tigers pull it off, they’ll have 9 wins over top 25 teams, including 4 over the top 5 teams in one season. RIDICULOUS!! On the other side, ‘Bama is the 900-pound gorilla. They lean and lean on the opponent until, eventually, their offense collapses. And it’s been awfully effective since Saban left Miami for Tuscaloosa. This season, only Georgia Southern, don’t ask me how, has reached the 20-point plateau. That seems to be the magic number since Alabama’s lost 3 of the last 4 games in which they’ve given up 20 or more points. Mistakes really were their downfall in Tuscaloosa. LSU was more than happy to take advantage.
But enough of the background, let’s look ahead. I was trying to find some clever key to the game, but there isn’t one. It’s simple. Trent Richardson is the best player on the field, and this game may determine whether we see him next year on Saturdays or Sundays. He had some big plays early in the first matchup, but LSU was able to largely contain him. His ability to run around and through the Tigers defenders will have a direct effect on whether AJ McCarron can have some success down the field. With the crowd being largely in LSU’s favor, staying out of 3rd and long situations is huge for the Tide. And when Alabama gets into scoring position, they MUST score touchdowns, not field goals as they did last time. In a game that is so even on both sides, special teams are often the deciding factor. It may end up that way again as I see the Alabama Crimson Tide hoisting it’s second trophy in the last 3 years. It’s just too hard to beat Saban twice in one season, especially with a month to prepare. Alabama 20 LSU 17.
