LSU vs. Alabama: Les Miles or Nick Saban, Who's the Better Big-Game Coach?

There's no doubt that the matchup between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide next Saturday pits two of the best coaches in college football against one another. Both Les Miles and Nick Saban have coached a team to a BCS National Championship in the past four years. And both have won multiple BCS bowl games.

I think when people ask which coach is better, that's too broad a question to address. In this case, we can narrow the question to: which coach is better in big games? In order to do so, let's focus on three categories: record in BCS bowl games, conference championship games, and games against ranked teams.

BCS Games

Les Miles has a perfect 2-0 record in BCS games. His Tigers demolished the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 41-14 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl, and then of course LSU won the BCS National Championship game 38-24 against the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2008.

Nick Saban is 3-1 in BCS games. He led LSU to victories in the 2002 and 2004 Sugar Bowls (the latter of which was also the BCS Championship), and he led Alabama to a victory in the 2010 BCS Championship over the Texas Longhorns, a year after losing the Sugar Bowl to the Utah Utes.

Advantage: Miles. Yes Saban has won two National Championships, but Miles is 2-0, and Saban's 2008 Crimson Tide team laid an egg against Utah.

Conference Championship Games

Les Miles is 1-1 in SEC Championship Games. His No. 3 Tigers were upset in the 2005 SEC Championship by the No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs. Then in 2007, his No. 5 Tigers beat the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers 21-14.

Nick Saban is 3-1 in SEC Championship Games. In 2001, he led LSU to an upset of the No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers. In 2003, he led LSU to a 21 point victory over the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs. In 2008 his Crimson Tide team lost to the Florida Gators, before winning the rematch the next season.

Advantage: Saban

Against Ranked Teams

Les Miles has a 10-9 record against top 10 teams. He's 28-13 against teams ranked in the top 25.

Nick Saban has a 13-10 record against top 10 teams. He has a 33-18 record against teams ranked in the top 25.

Advantage: Saban. They have an almost identical winning percentage against the top 25, but Saban has been slightly better against the top 10.

Verdict

Although it's Les Miles who has the reputation of being the "Mad Hatter," Nick Saban has been a better big game coach. He's won two BCS National Championships at two different schools, and he's got an astoundingly good record against ranked teams.