Alabama vs. LSU: Trent Richardson Will Carry Crimson Tide Offense to Title

Trent Richardson will be motivated to carry the Alabama offense past LSU in the BCS championship game to prove to NFL scouts that he's a top five draft pick, and to make up for his disappointing performance in the first meeting between the SEC powers back in November.

Only twice in SEC play did Richardson fail to rush for 100 yards, and one of those times was against the Tigers on Nov. 5, when he racked up 89 yards.

To be fair to Richardson, he did have 80 yards receiving in the loss to LSU, his second highest receiving total of the season.

However, he could have done more for the Crimson Tide offense.

Richardson finished the year very strongly, gaining 505 rushing yards over Alabama's final three games. He rushed for an astounding 203 yards on 27 carries in the Crimson Tide's last game against Auburn.

There's no reason to think that Richardson's late-season performances aren't a preview of things to come in the BCS title game on Monday.

After losing to LSU, Richardson improved his rushing totals in each of the next three games. It was clear the disappointment of the defeat fueled Richardson to prove he was still one of the elite offensive players in college football and could lead his Alabama team back into the national championship picture.

Richardson also got a lot of carries after the loss to the Tigers, and I expect him to get another heavy workload in the BCS title game.

Three of his four highest carry totals of the season came in the three games after the LSU defeat, including the Mississippi State and Georgia Southern games, in which he carried the ball a season-high 32 times.

Richardson comes into the national title game playing very well and with a chip on his shoulder. He knows he has to be very good for Alabama to beat LSU and to impress NFL scouts.

With so much on the line for him and his team, Richardson will give the Crimson Tide a huge performance to help the program win its second title in the last three seasons.

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