LSU Football: Winning Out and Where to Go from There (Postseason)

Now that No. 5 LSU (8-1, 5-1) has ruined 2009 National Champion Alabama's hopes of a repeat performance, one would think that with only one loss LSU would control its own destiny if it were able to run the table. 

Normally, that would be the case, however a seven-point loss to undefeated conference foe No. 2 Auburn has derailed that possibility.  The question then becomes, what happens to LSU and their grass-chewing head coach Les Miles?

The ideal scenario would have LSU beat (in succession) ULM, Ole Miss and Arkansas while Auburn would fall to the likes of Georgia and Alabama.  This event would send LSU of course to Atlanta in a clash with the SEC Eastern champion.  A victory here, thanks to strength of schedule and of course the SEC's 5-0 record in BCS national championship games, would vault a one-loss SEC champion above the likes of unbeaten TCU or Boise State.

The more likely scenario, unfortunately for Tiger Nation, is for LSU to win out and represent the state of Louisiana and Tiger Nation in de-facto home-away-from-home New Orleans in the BCS Sugar Bowl. 

While the possibility does exist that Auburn could lose to above stated Georgia and Alabama, the fact is that Auburn's offense is too good for the likes of A.J. Green and the rejuvenated Georgia Bulldogs.

As for Alabama, while the Iron Bowl is always a heated exchange, it does bring one to wonder if this Crimson Tide team mails it in with the loss to LSU.

For LSU and Tiger Nation though, the Bayou Bengals must win out for either of these scenarios to come to fruition.  One loss will most likely send the Tigers and the LSU faithful to Dallas for New Year's Day instead of the warm weather of southern Florida due to LSU losing in 2009's Capitol One Bowl.  

That being said, much like a fourth-down Tight End reverse, the SEC is often unpredictable and would anyone really be shocked if LSU made its way to the BCS national championship game?  Not with the Riverboat Gambler known as Les Miles steering the ship.  Predictability with this Tiger team was tossed aside with a "13 men on the field" penalty by Tennessee.