BCS Bowl Projections: 5 Teams That Would Give LSU a Better Game Than Alabama

The LSU Tigers moved to 12-0 with their victory over Arkansas in the regular-season finale.

A victory over the Razorbacks cemented the Tigers' first 12-0 start in school history, and all-but guarantees the Tigers a spot in the national championship game.

The Tigers will probably see a familiar opponent in the national championship game, Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated Auburn in Week 13 to move to 11-1.

The Tide and the Tigers battled in Week 10. Alabama gave the Tigers their toughest contest of the season, but do they deserve another shot?

LSU has it all. Speed, power, explosiveness and dynamic athleticism are all included in the daunting-Tiger package.

Alabama will probably get another shot to knock off their SEC foe. However, there are better options the BCS should consider. 

Here are five teams that would give the Tigers a better match than the Tide:

Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks are 10-2 this season. Their two losses are against USC and LSU.

The Ducks lost to the Tigers in Week 1, 40-27. The Ducks had four turnovers, and could not seem to get out of their own way.

Oregon is a better team than the Tigers saw in Week 1. Youth and inexperience played a major role in the Week 1 loss. With 11 more games under their belts, the Ducks are much more prepared for the Tigers' speed and athleticism.

The Duck defense has improved throughout the course of the season. They allow 23 points per game, but the Tiger offense is not the unit of primary concern.

Oregon's offense is one of the few equipped to match LSU's defensive speed. Their ability to spread the field and split the seams will put a lot of pressure on the outstanding Tiger defenders.

The Ducks have as much, if not more, speed than anyone in the country. LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and D'Anthony Thomas are an explosive trio of weapons the Tigers would not want to see a second time.

USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are 10-2. However, they are not eligible for postseason play this season.

Obviously, the Trojans will not get their shot to prove themselves among the elite this season. Don't let that fool you, though. This team is very talented and on the rise.

The Trojan defense is 49th in the nation in scoring, but that is a bit misleading. Outside of Arizona, Oregon and Stanford no one has scored more than 17 points on the Trojan defenders.

Their defense is young, but very fast.

Quarterback Matt Barkley gets better as each week passes. He saved his best performance for last, tossing six touchdowns in Week 13 against UCLA.

Barkley is surrounded by plenty of talent. Receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods both have over 1,000 yards receiving and 10-plus touchdowns.

Running backs Curtis McNeal and Marc Tyler provide balance to Barkley's pro-style aerial attack.

The Trojans are not a finished product. Their offense is ready to compete now, but their defense relies on raw athleticism.

Even so, Barkley and the Trojan receivers would put a ton of pressure on the LSU secondary. More pressure than they have faced all season.

Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers are 10-2 heading into the Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State.

The Badgers would be undefeated if it wasn't for two answered prayers. Wisconsin lost to Ohio State and Michigan State on Hail Mary, desperation passes.

Granted, the Badgers did put themselves in a position to lose those games. However, that does not diminish the Badgers' talent on both sides of the ball.

Wisconsin is fourth in the nation in scoring offense and defense.

Offensively, the Badgers rely on the legs of Montee Ball, James White and quarterback Russell Wilson. LSU does not give a lot of ground up front, but the massive Badger offensive line could change that story.

Wilson can stretch the field vertically with his arm. Receiver Nick Toon gives him a legitimate down-field threat. The Badgers have never had that element on offense.

Defensively, the Badgers are solid on all three levels. They do not have LSU's speed, but they are disciplined and understand their defensive schemes.

Wisconsin is overmatched in terms of speed and athleticism. But, size and power lean in the Badgers' favor.

It would be an interesting matchup. Wisconsin would hold up better than most Big Ten teams against an elite SEC squad.

Stanford Cardinal

Stanford is 11-1 this season. Their only loss is against Oregon in Week 11.

The Cardinal are not proven. Their resume is questionable, and the loss to Oregon didn't make it look any better.

However, this team has talent on both sides of the ball.

The Cardinal would keep LSU honest because of their balance on offense. Quarterback Andrew Luck needs no introduction at this point, despite the talent surrounding him.

Luck uses three tight ends as his primary targets. This puts stress on opposing linebackers and safeties. LSU's linebackers are very fast but are not the strong point of their defense.

The Cardinal complement Luck's passing attack with a stable of running backs. Depth in the backfield allows Cardinal backs to stay fresh and allows for a diverse running style.

Defensively, the Cardinal lack speed. However, they are very strong in the trenches and are great tacklers in space.

Stanford seems to get overlooked in BCS conversations. As long as Luck is behind center, that should not be the case.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State is 10-1. Without their Week 12 loss to Iowa State, the Cowboys would be firmly entrenched in the BCS National Championship game.

Offensively, the Cowboys can put more pressure on LSU than anyone.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden leads the nation's No. 2 passing attack. Fifteen of his 34 touchdowns have landed in the hands of superstar receiver Justin Blackmon.

Blackmon and Weeden may be the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in the nation. However, the Cowboy offense isn't purely passing.

Joseph Randle provides an excellent change of pace at running back for the Cowboys. He has quietly racked up 21 touchdowns on almost six yards per carry.

The Cowboy defense isn't lights out, but they are a very opportunistic bunch.

Oklahoma State would need to force LSU into a shootout. If anyone can do it, it's them. Their ability to spread the field would put tremendous pressure on LSU's frightening defense. 

LSU has not seen an offense like the Cowboys' all season. They could be in for a rude awakening if this matchup comes to fruition.