BCS Bowl Predictions: 11 Reasons Why LSU Wins It All

As it stands right now, there isn't a more dominant team in all of college football than the LSU Tigers.

Les Miles has this team playing at an elite level as they enter the grind of the always-difficult SEC schedule. But does LSU have what is needed to finish the season undefeated and win its second national championship under Miles?

A dominant defense, a game-managing quarterback and a grueling running back committee.

What else do you need?

Let's break down 11 reasons why the Tigers will be hoisting the national championship trophy at the end of this season.

11. Proven Winners

It would be hard to find a single team in the country that has as challenging of an out-of-conference schedule as LSU did.

The Tigers faced three ranked opponents in three of their first four games of the season, and all of them were on the road.

But the Tigers opened the season with a commanding win over Oregon, followed that with a convincing win over Mississippi State and then concluded with a blowout victory over a good West Virgina team in Week 4.

The Tigers have already proven to the college football world that they are ready for any challenge that comes their way.

10. Steady Running Game

In order to win a national championship, a team has to be multidimensional with the ability to both pass and run the ball effectively.

The Tigers are just that, and it all starts with their reliable running game.

LSU doesn't have a star in the backfield who is going to break out for 200 yards in a game. But they have four, yes four, capable running back options in the backfield.

Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Terrence Magee are all solid running backs who can get the job done for this team as they make their march to the national championship game.

9. Conference Prestige

The SEC is the Nike of college football.

There are other competitors, but when it comes down to it, nothing rivals the SEC.

Because of that, the BCS takes into account how difficult these teams' schedules are and what a grind it is to play in this conference week in and week out.

Why does that matter?

Because an SEC school like LSU, who could have one loss, should get into the national championship game over another school with one loss, or maybe even a school like Boise State with no losses.

It probably shouldn't be that way, but that's just how the cookie crumbles in this situation.

8. No Pass Zone

There isn't a better, more talented secondary in all the land than the one you'll find at LSU.

Mo Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu form the top defensive backfield in the country, and arguably the best we've seen in over a decade.

I realize that statement might upset some people over at Alabama, but as good as the Tide's secondary is, it just doesn't compare with what this team has going on in Baton Rouge.

In order to win a national championship, teams are going to have to be able to pass the ball. That won't be the case against this LSU team.

7. Reliable Quarterback

LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee isn't going to win the Heisman Trophy this season. He probably isn't even going to finish in the top 10.

But what Lee can do is win games. He has proven that thus far this season, and while he isn't the flashiest of players or doesn't post the gaudiest of stats, he gets the job done and that's what's asked of him.

Lee reminds me of a modern-day Trent Dilfer when he led the Ravens to the Super Bowl. He can manage a game and he just flat-out knows to win football games.

6. Coaching

Only one team in the SEC is going to make it to the national championship and chances are that it will come down to LSU or Alabama.

So if you take LSU, let's take a look at the remaining coaches of possible national championship teams: Les Miles, Bob Stoops, Brett Bielema, Chris Petersen and David Shaw.

Pretty good crew there, but if you ask me, I'd say Miles is the best of that bunch.

Coaching matters a ton in college football, especially when you get to that national championship game where one play call could make the difference between a win or loss.

Luckily for LSU, they got a great one on their side.

5. Ball Security

What is the quickest way to lose an important game?

Simple: turn the ball over.

If you do it too much, you're likely to lose. If you don't do it at all, you should be in any game you play. And that is the case with this LSU team.

In five games this season, LSU has only turned the ball over a total of three times. Jarrett Lee has a seven-to-one touchdown-to-turnover ratio heading into Week 6.

If you take care of the ball, you can win any football game. Especially when you are as talented as LSU is.

4. Senior Leadership

We have all heard the old saying of "senior leadership wins games."

Well that does have some truth to it, especially in the case of this LSU team, where a number of their important skill position players are seniors.

Quarterback is the most important position on the football team, and LSU has the luxury of having a senior behind center in Jarrett Lee.

Deangelo Peterson is one of this team's top receiving targets, and he is also a senior and one of three seniors on the offensive line.

The defense is led by a talented but young defensive line, but they make up for that youth with two starting senior linebackers.

This team has both talent and leadership, and that is scary good.

3. The Schedule

When playing in the SEC, you aren't going to find a team that has an easy schedule.

The Tigers have already played three ranked teams in their first five games, all of which were on the road, and all of which resulted in wins.

Now looking forward, LSU does have that Nov. 5 matchup against Alabama on the road, and it dosen't get any tougher than that. But other than that game, the Tigers' remaining schedule is fairly manageable going forward.

Outside of Alabama, LSU plays three other ranked teams this season—Florida, Auburn and Arkansas. But all three of those games are in Baton Rouge.

After starting with a schedule like LSU did, there has to be some reward at the end of the road.

2. They've Been Through It All

Name me one team in the country that is as battle-tested as LSU is.

This team started the year playing three ranked opponents on the road in the first four games, and marched away with convincing wins in all of those.

This team played in the AT&T Cotton Bowl last season on a national stage and handed it to a good Texas A&M team.

This team opened the year against the No. 3-ranked team in the country at Cowboys Stadium, and held the nation's top-scoring offense to under 30 points.

LSU has seen it all, and they are more than ready for the biggest stage of all.

The national championship game.

1. Defense, Defense, Defense

We have all heard it before.

"Defense wins championships." Right?

Well if that holds true, then this year's LSU football team is well on its way to a national title.

This defense has been dominant this year. They have an exceptional defensive line, solid senior-led linebackers and a secondary that is second to none.

You can't lose if the other team can't score on you. And that is the motto that is going to lead this LSU to the national championship.