BCS Rankings: LSU Will Strangle Alabama in BCS Championship

The final BCS rankings are in, and it turns out No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama will face each other again, this time on a bigger stage.

After LSU defeated Alabama, 9-6, on Nov. 5, the Tigers and Crimson Tide are set for a rematch in the BCS Championship Game.

Alabama, led by the top head coach in college football, Nick Saban, won the title game in 2009, but has an even better running back this time, replacing Mark Ingram with Trent Richardson.

Alabama's defense, like LSU's, is scary good. The Crimson Tide gave up just 8.8 points per game this season, the best in college football. They also gave up the fewest passing yards per game and second fewest rushing yards per carry.

On top of this, Richardson will be the best offensive player on the field when the Crimson Tide face the Tigers. That can't be ignored.

Richardson rushed for 89 yards and caught five balls for 80 yards against Alabama on Nov. 5, showing he  could be just as much a threat through the air than on the ground.

Richardson could be the difference in this game, but I do think LSU has a bit more going for it.

LSU has allowed the second-fewest points per game this season (10.5), ranked eighth in passing yards allowed per game and have ceded just 2.6 yards per carry, tied for third in college football.

But as far as offense goes, LSU does have a slight advantage over Alabama, particularly because of its running game.

LSU has scored 38.5 points per game this season, led by a slew of running backs who have contributed. The Tigers have scored 41 points or more in their last four games, including against then-No. 3 Arkansas and then-No. 14 Georgia.

What makes LSU so dangerous in the running game is you never know who's going to hurt you. Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard, Terrence Magee and even quarterback Jordan Jefferson are dangerous out of the backfield.

In the end, I think LSU's advantage on offense creates greater distance than Alabama's slight advantage on defense.

Plus, the Tigers have one Tyrann Mathieu returning punts.

LSU will go 2-0 against Alabama and win the title this season.