BCS Championship Game Preview : #1 LSU vs #2 Alabama

New Orleans, Louisiana – With the BCS Championship game a little more than 24 hours away and played on the same field that would see a NFL post-season record set by the New Orleans Saints for passing yards, points and total yards, the much anticipated rematch between the top-ranked (13-0) LSU Tigers and (11-1) Alabama Crimson Tide may set records for defense.

LSU would defeat Alabama 9-6 in overtime in a epic defensive clinic on the road in Tuscaloosa, Nov 5. Despite the loss, Alabama would rip off three straight wins over Mississippi State, Georgia Southern and arch rival Auburn.

The Crimson Tide would not play the SEC Championship Game—which is the reason for the criticism of the rematch—but would benefit from upsets of #2 Oklahoma State and #4 Oregon to USC and Iowa State respectively.

Alabama would earn a spot in the BCS Championship Game by edging out Oklahoma State by .0086—the narrowest margin in BCS history.

Going forward, both teams bring hard-hitting defenses to the game and will use them to dictate tempo and field position.

The key to this game will be the play of the offensive lines of LSU and Alabama.

If Alabama can establish dominance on the ground against LSU’s ferocious defensive line with running back Trent Richardson then the Tide has a good chance of winning it’s 14th national title.

If LSU’s offensive line can neutralize Alabama’s vaunted linebackers led by projected first-round picks in Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw and can find a way to get their top playmaker in wide receiver Rueben Randle--who will be matched up against another Crimson Tide first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft--cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, then LSU has a chance to bring home it’s fourth national title.

This slideshow will break down the Allstate BCS National Championship game in areas from quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back, special teams, coaching, intangibles and a final prediction.

LSU Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS Championship Game from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome – laissez les bon temps roller!