LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: 5 Reasons Rematch Lives Up to the Hype

The LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide are set to blow the roof off the Superdome on Jan. 9 with one of the greatest games of the postseason.

The Tigers and Tide know each other very well and have shown that they have two of the best defenses in college football history all season long. How else would you describe two offenses that averaged more than 37 points per game against every other opponent scoring under 10 points each in the “Game of the Century?”

With NFL scouts drooling over LSU’s ball-hawking secondary and Alabama’s powerful linebackers, fans will get a glimpse of future NFL stars playing for a national title.

The first game was an overtime thriller that ended in a 9-6 score, but those who don’t appreciate great defense thought the “Game of the Century” fell short of being able to claim “Game of the Week.”

There’s no doubt about this game being another defensive classic. Both defenses are too talented.

But fans can rest assured that there will be more scoring, and this championship clash will be a game for the ages.

These are the reasons why.

Wrinkles in Offensive Game Plans

With more than 40 days to prepare, these offenses will find areas to exploit and put touchdowns on the board.

That doesn’t mean you should expect to see the Baylor Bears vs. Washington Huskies out there, though.

Both offenses used their patented ground-and-pound attacks against one another, and the defenses flexed their muscles and refused to budge.

The Tigers managed to rush for 148 yards, while the Tide rushed for 96 yards.

The Tigers found success against Alabama’s defense with their option game in the first contest, and Alabama was able to get Trent Richardson the football down the field in the passing game. Look for both teams to build off of that, but expect to find more wrinkles in the offensive game plan.

For LSU, they’re going to try to get their emerging freshman superstar Kenny Hilliard the football more. Hilliard only had two carries against Alabama’s defense in the first game, and it would be wise for LSU to give him more carries to try and match Alabama’s physicality or at least wear them down.

After the Tigers pound it over and over again with Hilliard, look for them to get their option game going with Jordan Jefferson and Michael Ford. Speed is definitely an advantage for LSU and on the turf inside the dome, the Tigers should be able to stretch the field against Alabama’s front seven.

As for the Tide, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them spread the field early against the Tigers. The Georgia Bulldogs set a frenetic pace in the SEC Championship Game against the Tigers and capitalized on some confusion in LSU’s secondary.

With Marquis Maze healthier, look for Alabama to try to put LSU on their heels early.

Because of all of the offensive adjustments, fans can expect to see both teams score one to two touchdowns in this defensive struggle.

Can’t Deny NFL Talent

When you tune in to watch this game Monday night, the field will be full of future millionaires.

Players like Trent Richardson, Mo Claiborne, Dre Kirkpatrick and Courtney Upshaw could all be chosen in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Josh Chapman, Marquis Maze and Mark Barron will be drafted as well, and should players Rueben Randle, Dont’a Hightower, Barrett Jones and Robert Lester choose to come out, they’ll be selected too.

That’s just the upperclassman, and the youth on the field/future pros could easily be argued as the most entertaining on the team.

Guys like Eric Reid, who changed the first game with an incredible interception, Tyrann Mathieu, who spent the last two games against Arkansas and Georgia returning punts for touchdowns, Kenny Bell, who stuck the dagger in Auburn with a 41-yard touchdown reception and Barkevious Mingo, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and plays defensive end, are as exciting as they come.

Did any other bowl game have this much talent on the field? I think not.

While it may be impossible to predict how many touchdowns either team will score in the rematch, one thing is for certain—the field will be rich with talent.

Jordan Jefferson Better When Given Extra Time to Prepare

If there’s an X-factor in this game, it’s Jordan Jefferson.

In the most important game in LSU history, it comes down to the most criticized quarterback in school history

The guy that didn’t become the starter this season until Jarrett Lee threw two interceptions in the game against Alabama.

That same guy that lost his job to Lee earlier this season after being accused of getting into a fight at a bar.

Jefferson's legacy at LSU comes full circle in this championship game, and his team needs him to come through in a big way.

For the Tigers to win this game, Jefferson will have to take care of the football and make big plays for LSU on offense.

Whether it’s running the ball, throwing the ball downfield or pitching it to one of LSU’s running backs, the game’s axis will rely on how well Jefferson plays.

A fitting end to a roller-coaster ride of a career at LSU.

Grown-Man Football

With two SEC teams going toe-to-toe for the BCS crown, you can bet on seeing grown-man football for four quarters.

As much as I enjoy watching two great offenses going at it, there’s just something about two defenses imposing their will play after play.

That’s why I always look forward to watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens each season, and that’s why I can’t wait to see LSU and Alabama go at it one more time.

As fun as it is to watch De’Anthony Thomas run all over Wisconsin, Robert Griffin III do anything he wants to Washington’s defense and Justin Blackmon going up and down the field at will, it’s just not as good as watching two dominant defenses.

It’s an old-school mentality, but defenses win championships, and that’s why you see LSU and Alabama in the national championship game.

Big-time collisions are inevitable in this game, and that makes for quite an exciting contest.

Miles vs. Saban for All the Marbles

Whether you feel attached to the Nick Saban/Les Miles saga or not, you should get plenty of entertainment from watching this storyline unfold.

It’s almost as if everything in the past decade has led to this one moment, this one game.

If you didn’t know, Saban brought LSU from the depths of mediocrity to being national champions in 2003 and then left to coach the Miami Dolphins in 2005.

Miles replaced Saban and faced criticism throughout his LSU coaching career even though he won a championship in 2007.

With Saban raising the Crimson Tide from the ashes a few years ago and Miles finally winning over LSU fans with a 13-0 season, the stage is set.

Miles leads the series between himself and Saban 3-2, with the average margin of victory being 5.6, so a close contest is just about guaranteed when these two meet.

This crazy rivalry of Saban vs. Miles will reach its climax with a national championship at stake on Jan. 9. If this championship is as good as the rivalry has been, this game is going to be another crowd-pleaser.