LSU vs. Alabama 2011: Why the Losing Team Should Still Be No. 2

The No. 1 LSU Tigers vs. the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide is easily the biggest game of 2011, but whoever loses should not fall too far in the Top 25 polls. 

Both teams have been outstanding this season, and there is no denying that these are the best two teams in the country.

So why then should the losing team take a hit in the polls? 

The BCS loves winners, and it's all but guaranteed that the computers are going to put another undefeated team at No. 2 on Sunday. 

However, that won't be justified because Alabama and LSU are clearly the best teams in the country. 

Sure, if one team blows out the other, then the loser deserves to drop, but that isn't going to happen, and you're naïve if you think it will. 

These are the best defenses in the country, and neither one is going to be dominated on Saturday. 

The Crimson Tide have the No 1 defense in terms of scoring, rushing, pass efficiency and total defense. The Tigers, on the other hand, are ranked in the top five of all of those categories.

Writer Clay Travis points out a great stat about the Crimson Tide that everyone should remember come Saturday. 

Nick Saban excels at making adjustments, and he'll do the same on Saturday against LSU. Of course, Les Miles is just as good, and he will also be prepared for whatever Alabama throws at him and the Tigers. 

Having your only loss of the season come at the hands of the No. 1 team shouldn't cause a team to plummet in the rankings.

If Alabama loses, the Crimson Tide should still be No. 2 because no other team is capable of beating that defense.

If LSU loses, the Tigers shouldn't fall past No. 2 because they've proven that they're better than any other team in the country, other than Alabama.

These are just hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the fact that Alabama and LSU are the best in the nation, and they need to be recognized that way in the polls no matter who loses on Saturday.

Oklahoma State should have no trouble beating Kansas State this weekend, which will more than likely vault them to No. 2 in the polls.

But they still won't be considered a better overall team than the loser of the LSU vs. Alabama game because even though the Cowboys have one of the most high-powered offenses this season, they've only played against one defense in the top 50.

Plus, they would still struggle against Alabama and LSU's defense, which is why the loser of Saturday's game should be No. 2 in the country.