LSU vs. Alabama: Why Defensive Chess Match Is Good for College Football

Alabama and LSU don't play the kind of exciting football that fans like to see on a stage like the BCS championship came, but there's no reason to think that makes the game any less intriguing. In fact, a strong defensive battle is actually a good thing for college football. 

The first time these two teams met, there were 15 combined points, four turnovers and 534 offensive yards. We have been spoiled by the four other BCS games, which featured high-flying offenses and lousy defenses. 

LSU and Alabama do have offenses that are capable of scoring against inferior teams. However, when you put them on the same field together, you're going to see them have to play smart football that doesn't require gimmicks. 

The two defenses are going to play a game of "Can you top that?" 

That's a good thing for college football. We all like to see teams that can air it out, but there's something special about watching two defenses that can dominate a game and make it so that the offense doesn't have to do much. 

During a press conference on Sunday, Les Miles actually said that he expects "big-boy football" between LSU and Alabama. That's his way of saying that no other teams in the country play the way that they do, and nothing is going to come easy to either team. 

It's going to be a great battle of wills, and whichever team has the stronger resolve will walk away with a national championship for all their troubles. 

These two teams are so evenly matched that even trying to predict a winner is enough to make your head hurt. Alabama ranked first in scoring defense, total defense, run defense and pass defense. 

Guess which team finished second in all those categories? If you even thought about saying anyone besides LSU then you should be banned from watching college football forever. 

In a bowl season that has been filled with gimmicks and overall bad play on the defensive side of the ball, it's refreshing to see a game featuring two teams that will line up across from each other and just try to punch the other in the mouth. 

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