Bowl Projections: Would LSU's Dynamic 'D' Shut Down OSU'S Attack in Title Game?

With LSU at No. 1 in the country and Oklahoma State No. 2 heading into the final stretch, the question now becomes whether or not the Cowboys can keep up that big-time scoring offense against the No. 2 defense in the nation.

When it's all said and done, it will be too much defense for this Cowboys offense to handle.

With Alabama, Oklahoma and Stanford all having legitimate shots at taking the No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings at different points of the season, who would have thought that the Oklahoma State Cowboys would emerge as the second-best team in college football?

Not many.

This is a team that has gone under the radar for most of the season, as Oklahoma was the sure conference winner before the season started.

Oklahoma State has put together some of the more impressive numbers of any team when it comes to offense. The Cowboys are the No. 2 ranked offense in the nation, putting up a whopping 51.7 points per game. The big reason why this offense has been clicking: the play of Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Weeden has put up arguably the best numbers of his career, throwing for 31 touchdowns, and 3,635 yards with just two games left this season. The 31 touchdowns ranks No. 2 in the nation, while the team's 394-plus yards per game through the air are also No. 2 in the nation.

Talk about some numbers.

Yet against LSU, these numbers will be difficult to come by.

For one, the Cowboys have yet to play a top-notch defense. The best defensive team the Cowboys have played all season are the 6-3 Texas Longhorns, who are the No. 28 ranked defense in division one football.

On the other hand, you have an LSU team that is straight up relentless on the defensive end. The No. 2 defense in the nation has held three of it's last four opponents to less than 10 points. One of those wins came to against the once No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, who lose 9-6 in what was arguably the best defensive performance of the season for the Tigers.

LSU is currently a unanimous No. 1 in the AP college football poll, the first time a team was unanimously chosen since 2008. LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo, who had eight tackles and a sack in the team's most recent victory, has been one of the bigger contributors defensively for the team this season.

The final factor that ultimately gives LSU the edge in the matchup: not even taking into account the top-notch defense LSU brings to the table, they are also a much improved offense. In two of their last three games they have scored 40-plus points, with one of those coming against No. 20 Auburn.

Fully expect the two to matchup in the BCS Championship game, with LSU's scary, dominating defense taking over the Cowboys offense from the get-go.