Bowl Projections: LSU vs. Alabama Rematch Would Live Up to First Meeting's Hype

When LSU and Alabama met in Week 10 it was billed as “The Game of the Century.” The final score was 9-6. If the BCS decides to let them meet again in the BCS National Championship Game, the clash will live up to its original billing.

The Tigers would seem like a virtual lock for a National Title spot even if they lose to Georgia. Alabama's situation is a bit more murky because they don't have another chance to persuade voters while No. 3 Oklahoma State still has a game against rival Oklahoma.

Crimson Tide star Dont’a Hightower knows his team has done all it can and now they must sit back and wait (via Associated Press).

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“It’s going to be tough,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower said. “But I won’t lie to you: It’s going to be good to get a week off. A lot of guys are banged up.”

But, he added: “I feel like we showed (Saturday) that we’re a national championship contender. I feel like we did everything in our power to do that.”

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Alabama knocked off four ranked teams, including a blowout win over Auburn on Saturday, en route to its 11-1 record. The Tide defense is the nation's only unit allowing less than 10 points and 200 yards per game.

LSU is second in both those categories at 11 points and nearly 250 yards.

With all due respect to Oklahoma State, Stanford and Virginia Tech, which have all had banner years, it's hard to argue against the Tigers and Tide having the most talented teams in America. The depth on both teams is unmatched other than by each other.

Then there's playing in the SEC.

It's undoubtedly the most complete football conference, with only one team finishing worse than 5-7 despite beating up on each other for the past few months. Arkansas finished third in the SEC West and could have very well won any other conference in the nation.

With all that talent and more than a month to prepare, LSU and Alabama would surely put on a better show in New Orleans than they did in Tuscaloosa.

There's a widespread dislike of rematches because of the déjà vu feeling, but when both teams deserve to play for a National Title, it shouldn't matter if they've met previously or not. LSU and Alabama belong in the BCS National Championship Game.

Instead of dreading a rematch, just look forward to an awe-inspiring game between the nation's two best teams.