LSU Football: Can Les Miles Finally Shake Nick Saban's Shadow with West Title?

Can Les Miles finally erase those evil demons and get the best of Nick Saban? He better if he expects his Tigers to get their chance at a BCS National Championship.

Let it be known that these are two of the better coaches not only in the Southeastern Conference, but also in America. They have faced off four times, with each coach winning two a piece.

Before Saban came to Alabama, Miles went a solid 2-0 against Alabama squeaking out a three-point overtime victory in 2005 before winning by two touchdowns back at home in 2006.

Since then it has been a see-saw back and forth affair, as every game has been decided by single digits. In fact, the other three games were decided by three, six (overtime) and seven points.

It was Nick Saban's 2009 team that knocked off LSU by nine points, the same season in which his Tide won the BCS National Championship.

Nick Saban may be hated by most for his off-field antics with the Miami Dolphins by essentially leaving them high and dry for a bigger and better (more success, money, fame, though who wouldn't have taken it?) opportunity. 

Meanwhile, Miles is itching just to reach a BCS bowl since it has been a long and somewhat devastating three years. Miles has gone to the Chick-fil-A, Capital One and Cotton Bowl in recent years and that is not good enough for Tiger nation or himself.

The players he recruits on both lines of scrimmage are ferocious, more so than arguably any program in the nation. An SEC fan would throw a jab as such, "We are exactly like Ohio State except we have better athletes" and you can't blame them for saying such with all of the SEC's recent success and fame.

These two programs and coaches are on a collision course, and quite frankly it is a bit odd that after these teams play in a few weeks, that their seasons will both be far from over.

The winner will get crowned of course, but they still need to win the SEC Championship Game against a solid and more than likely Top 20 SEC East champion. 

While Saban may seem to own Miles, he is just 2-2, as last year stung a bit for the Crimson Tide's three-loss season. Remember, they were the preseason No. 1 team that had a loaded defense with superstars Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Trent Richardson.

And yet Miles had his own pair of superstars on defense along with Stevan Ridley, Terrence Toliver and Rueben Randle owning the offense.

The players have changed a bit for this season, but the rosters are deeper and arguably more talented than ever before.

Les got some huge revenge and besides their seven-point victory last season it was the way they dominated them that made such a statement.

They out-gained the Tide, 433-325 by out-rushing them by 123 yards. Trent Richardson took a vicious hit short of the goal line and had to leave the game (knee). 

I am banking that Saban and Richardson will use that a bit to their advantage, though there is no need for motivation when a BCS National Championship is at stake. 

Miles and Saban already have one BCS National Championship and most consider the two among the greatest coaches in the BCS era (I do).

Miles needs a win more than ever since the haters and naysayers are still out there roaming the blogs. Can Les win a big game against Saban when it matters most? Despite the recent suspensions and all the off-field issues, Miles might have his most talented team yet.

One thing is for sure, the drama is building up and the days are being counted down until The Game of the Century is upon us.