LSU vs. Alabama: Why Les Miles Will Outcoach the Great Nick Saban

With a BCS National Championship and numerous other accolades to his credit at Alabama, Nick Saban has proven to be one of the nation's top coaches. The best in the business right now, however, is LSU's Les Miles, and he will prove it in the BCS National Championship Game.

Identifying good and bad coaching is fairly subjective. Every coach comes up with good ideas and game plans, but it all comes down to execution on the field. Luckily for Miles and Saban, they both have incredibly talented teams that can play their respective systems perfectly.

While you could call it a stalemate in terms of coaching the last time these two teams met, I think Miles was clearly superior.

The Tigers only came out on top 9-6, but Saban continually made the same mistake by trotting kicker Cade Foster onto the field to attempt long field goals.

It was clear that Foster didn't have it as he went just one of four, but Saban continually sacrificed good field position. The better play would have either been to go for it on fourth down or punt it and play the field-position game. While Foster shoulders much of the blame for the loss, Saban should have had a better feel for how things were going as well.

Miles is often made to look like a genius because he has fundamentally sound players in every phase of the game, but much of that is his own doing. The Tigers are far superior to the Crimson Tide in the special teams department and they don't make as many all-around miscues as Alabama.

I think this game will come down to three aspects: those being how the Tigers perform in the kicking game, how well they protect the ball and how well Miles manages his stable of running backs.

All of those things have gone well for LSU to this point, but now they need to do it on the big stage.

Punter Brad Wing and kicker Drew Alleman are about as good as it gets at their respective positions in the college game, so it basically comes down to Miles pulling the right strings. I think he has a good feel for Alleman's field-goal range—unlike Saban with his kickers—so it shouldn't be an issue.

In terms of turnovers Tigers quarterback Jarrett Lee threw two interceptions against the Tide last time. Jordan Jefferson has since taken over, though, and Miles figures to be very selective about the types of throws he allows Jefferson to make. I fully expect him to protect his quarterback with rollouts and safe routes.

As far as the running game goes, Alabama may have Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson, but LSU's group of backs were ultimately more effective in the first meeting. Miles will have to figure out the right formula in terms of how much to use Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard. Provided he can keep rotating the backs and keep them fresh, they should be successful against Alabama's defense once again.

As good as Saban is I just feel like Miles is a better in-game manager and I think that much will be apparent on Monday.

This game should be just as competitive and hard-fought as the first one was, but Miles was able to push the right buttons then and he'll do it again, allowing him to hoist the Coaches' Trophy once again.