Alabama vs. LSU: Pressure Is On for BCS Title to Live Up to Epic Bowl Season

The BCS National Championship is days away, and given how amazing this postseason has been, the No. 1 LSU Tigers and the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide better produce a thrilling game.

Since it's a rematch, few people outside of the teams' fanbases are excited for the title game. Add in the fact that every BCS bowl game (minus the Orange Bowl) has had fans on the edge of their seat, eagerly waiting to see who would win in the clutch, and it's going to be hard for this national championship game to live up to its title. 

There is little doubt that Alabama and LSU will produce a good game, but therein lies the problem.

What truly defines a good game? 

Every fans has a different opinion on that, and I'd love to hear yours, so drop a comment and let me know. 

Most people can agree, though, that dynamic offenses are what get people pumped up about college football. Sure, both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers have playmakers on offense, but the defenses are extremely dominant, meaning it will be difficult for an offense to shine. 

Another 9-6 battle will not sit well with college football fans, and this bowl season is perfect proof why the BCS Title game must have flare. 

High-Scoring Affairs 

Six different bowl games reached a total of 79 or more points, and two of those games surpassed 100 total points. We still have three games to be played before Monday night's title game, so this total could rise. 

Offense and kickers have been the theme of this bowl season, with several teams scoring quicker than Les Miles can down freshly cut grass. 

The BCS title game won't come close to a high scoring affair, but it still needs to produce some offense, or fans will be outraged, calling for an Oklahoma State vs. LSU showdown. 

Those that do watch the championship game (and why wouldn't you?), the main thing to keep in mind is that defense will be prominent early on. 

Fans have been blessed with shootouts, 91-yard run touchdown runs and huge pass plays that put six points on the board.  

Not many people wanted Alabama and LSU to play one another, but if the two teams manage to find success on offense, then all can be forgiven.

Much of the hype for this is trashed because it's a rematch of a defensive struggle. If Trent Richardson, Jordan Jefferson or Tyrann Mathieu can do something amazing that leads to more than a field goal, then there should be few complaints about the title game. 

Overtime Thrillers 

Four bowl games have gone past regulation, including a triple overtime matchup between Georgia and Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. 

With three games left until Alabama and LSU square off, this total could also rise.

The fine folks at ESPN Stats and Info tweeted that this postseason marked the first time that overtime played an important role in the big games.

I'm not saying the BCS title game has to go into overtime to ensure it doesn't disappoint the entire sport, just pointing out that this bowl season has been one of the best ever. 

Because of that, it puts even more pressure on these two programs to play at their best and deliver an amazing game. As the first ever rematch in the title game, Alabama and LSU were already under a ton of heat. 

Since the bowl season has be superb, the Crimson Tide and the Tigers face further scrutiny should the game flop. Yes, their first meeting went into overtime, which was exciting, but an overtime game that happens to also be a field goal affair doesn't exactly scream instant classic. 

Given the craziness of the entire college football season, the BCS title game needs to bring excitement on a national scale and not just for Alabama and LSU fans. They'll be enthused the minute the ball is kicked off. 

Bring the Jazz to New Orleans 

Labeled the "Game of the Century" the first time around, the entire game was a defensive struggle that put people to sleep.  

The rematch between LSU and Alabama has to avoid the dull moments and keep fans glued to their television. 

Being the final game of the year, college football fans need the BCS National Championship Game to enthrall them. A boring battle will cause fans to immediately look to 2012 as opposed to reflecting on how outstanding the past season was. 

Yes, fans always start talking about next season the minute the title game is over, but if it's an epic showdown that delivers that "wow" moment, then it's something fans can still discuss and debate weeks after the game was ever played. 

As the two best teams in the country, Alabama and LSU are supposed to give the fans what they want.

They're smart enough to know it won't be a high scoring affair, and while there is possibility of overtime, it's not absolutely necessary as long as the game captures us for all its entirety, leaving us more satisfied than any bowl game that's happened this year.

It doesn't always work out like that, though, but at the very least, the BCS title game needs more spark than the two team's first meeting.