Alabama vs. LSU: How Trent Richardson Is Key to a Crimson Tide Victory

Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson may have come up short in his bid for college football's top individual honor, the Heisman Trophy, but a win over the LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game on Monday night will go a long way in helping that disappointment subside.

Richardson's inability to find running room against the Tigers' vaunted defense was one of the major reasons Alabama fell short when the teams met in early November. He'll once again hold the key to success in the rematch.

It's a game that should have similar characteristics as the first meeting. The battle for field position will be more prominent than the battle for points and even a single big play could be enough to catapult a team to victory.

Defense is the name of the game when these two storied programs face off, so it'll be up to the offensive stars to steal the show.

If Richardson can set the tone early, it will open up the playbook for A.J. McCarron. The sophomore quarterback is the perfect fit for Alabama's offense because he doesn't have an ego and is willing to serve as a game manager, which is a term with a negative connotation.

McCarron operates best when Richardson and fellow dynamic back Eddie Lacy are forcing the defense to pack the box. That opens up the play-action passing game and should allow Marquis Maze to see more one-on-one matchups.

So it's clear that Richardson's early success will have a major impact on the offense's ability to move the ball for the rest of the game. It will also affect the defense, though.

The longer Richardson and Co. can maintain possession of the ball, it will give the Crimson Tide defense a chance to rest. In what's guaranteed to be a hard-hitting clash, every chance to recuperate will pay dividends in the fourth quarter.

Pay close attention to those first handful of carries for Richardson.

If he's able to show off some of his trademark explosiveness by finding holes in LSU's nearly unbreakable defense, Alabama’s chances of victory improve markedly.

One thing's for sure, there will be no shortage of motivation for No. 3 in a Crimson Tide uniform.

Between the lack of Heisman respect, NFL scouts looking on due to his possible entrance into the draft and the earlier loss when he averaged less than four yards per carry, Richardson will be a man on a mission.

That's bad news for the Tigers' defense.