LSU vs. Alabama: Lack of Offense Should Mean No National Title Rematch

Saturday's SEC clash between LSU and Alabama was akin to a pitcher's duel in baseball. Neither offense could generate any momentum, entering overtime with just 523 yards combined. The lack of firepower should mean there is no rematch in the BCS National Championship Game.

Granted, both defenses are elite but in order to illustrate to voters that they deserved another chance to prove themselves, the losing team would have needed to put on an impressive show. The Tide failed to do that, mostly because of their brutal kicking game.

Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy both averaged below four yards per carry and AJ McCarron is not a good enough quarterback to overcome a lackluster running game. Quite simply, the Crimson Tide finally went up against an evenly-matched defense and couldn't bring home the goods.

Alabama went 4-for-13 on third down and had two passes intercepted, including an ill-advised throw by Marquis Maze early in the fourth quarter. That play, which has on first down from the LSU 28, reeked of desperation from Nick Saban.

However, the real story is Alabama's kickers.

Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster combined to miss four field goals, including Foster's overtime attempt from 52 yards, which was nowhere close. If they had a better performance from either of those players, it would be Alabama celebrating a huge win today.

For a rematch to be warranted, it would have taken an extraordinary efforts from both teams to leave fans craving more. That certainly wasn't the case on Saturday.

Oklahoma State and Stanford both held serve in Week 10 and both now own a better case than the Crimson Tide to play in the National Title Game, if they win out. Alabama will have to hope for a lot more turbulence at the top before it rejoins the discussion.

What will eat away at Saban for the entire offseason if Alabama does fail to reach its ultimate goal is that the Crimson Tide's downfall was completely self-inflicted. LSU wasn't overly impressive, either, but they made enough plays to pull out the win.

All Alabama can do now is hope for some help and wonder what could have been because they didn't earn a rematch with Saturday's home loss.