BCS Bowl Projections: What's the Worst Championship Game Matchup for LSU?

The only constant in this year’s ever-changing BCS standings has been LSU, which has remained in the No. 1 spot since the rankings were first released back in Week 8. At this point, the Tigers are 10-0 and are just three wins away from making it to New Orleans for the BCS National Championship Game.

Les Miles’ crew already has wins over two of the top four teams in the country—Alabama and Oregon, but they’ve still got a few more tough tests to pass, as the Tigers have a big Thanksgiving weekend showdown with No. 6 Arkansas. Then, if they get by that, they face a potential meeting in the SEC championship game with either No. 12 South Carolina or No. 14 Georgia.

If LSU can survive that kind of grueling schedule without a blemish, it will have truly earned a spot in the national title game.

The question is, if LSU does get to the big game, which team would give the Tigers the most trouble?

As it stands now, it looks like No. 2 Oklahoma State is the most likely contender to meet LSU in the big game, but are the Cowboys really the most dangerous threat?

Yes, the Oklahoma State offense, which is led by the dangerous trio of QB Brandon Weeden, RB Joseph Randle and WR Justin Blackmon, is one of the most explosive units in the country, averaging 51 points and 565 points per game. But the Cowboys defense is mediocre at best, and LSU definitely has the talent at the skill positions with guys like Rueben Randle and Spencer Ware to exploit the Pokes’ defensive weaknesses.

If Oklahoma State goes down, you have the possibility of a rematch with No. 3 Alabama looming if things somehow break right. The Tide have the most talented and intimidating defense in the country, but as we saw in the “Game of the Century,” LSU knows how to do just enough to beat them.

The one potential championship game opponent that I think could really give LSU the most trouble is Oregon, a team the Tigers beat 40-27 in Cowboys Stadium on the first Saturday of the season.

The Ducks are a much different team now than they were at the beginning of the season, and remember, in that game, there were some key momentum-swinging turnovers that really hurt Oregon. Now that RB LaMichael James is healthy and back in the mix, this team is really starting to click on offense, and we saw that this past Saturday when the Ducks rolled over Stanford 53-30.

Not only is Oregon’s offense playing at a championship-caliber level, the defense has stepped up its game as well, as the Ducks are only allowing 4.8 yards per play and giving up just 21 points per game this season.

When I look at LSU, and when I look at Oregon, I see the two best teams in the country right now. I’m personally hoping that the scenario plays out where we get to see the Tigers and the Ducks battle it out once again, but this time, down in New Orleans for the crystal football.

If there’s one team that can end the SEC’s stranglehold on the national championship, it’s Oregon.

The Ducks came close to doing it last year. This year, they may just have what it takes to finally end the SEC’s reign of dominance.