BCS Championship 2012: Touchdowns Will Replace Field Goals in Title Rematch

With the nervous tension surrounding the Game of the Century all but an afterthought and the fear of losing the biggest game of the college football season no longer an issue, touchdowns will replace field goals in the BCS National Championship Game between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama on Monday night.

The first meeting between the two teams back in early November resulted in a 9-6 kicking contest in which the undefeated LSU Tigers edged the Crimson Tide on the road. 

This time around both teams meet in an offense-friendly dome that will provide players with excellent footing and flawless conditions. The second time around there will be less hesitation by the head coaches, less conservative play calling. 

Leading passers Jordan Jefferson and A.J. McCarron averaged 6.7 and 7.1 yards per attempt in the first meeting, proving both offenses were tight and playing scared.

Alabama can ill-afford to play conservative this time around though, or they will be faced with extreme backlash following yet another loss to the rival Tigers. Opportunities like this one don't come around often, and if the Tide fail to capitalize while also failing to be as aggressive with the ball as they are without, they will be the most blatant of BCS offenders.

For LSU, a conservative game plan is simply the formula for success considering that's what got the job done on Nov. 5. The don't have a Heisman candidate on offense, they don't have a Trent Richardson in the back field. Basically, they have an excuse.

There will be scoring in this game, however. There would have been scoring in the first meeting if it wasn't for badly-timed penalties and turnovers. Both teams combined for four turnovers and 13 flags back in November. 

This time around there will be less personal fouls and less shaky offensive play. It's a matter of comfort and experience. Both teams have already played in an elimination game this season, the kickers for the Tide couldn't handle that pressure and Nick Saban is aware.

Alabama will be much more aggressive inside the red zone and in 4th-and-short situations. Richardson is a rare talent and he'll not find only the yards against LSU, but the end zone as well.

The scoreboard won't explode like New Orleans Saints' game Monday night, but there will be more speed, more skill and more points. 

LSU doesn't have an offensive playmaker like Richardson, but they have two playmaking corners in Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu who will find the ball—and the end zone—at some point.