LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: 10 Bold Predictions for the BCS Championship Game

So, here we have it.

College football's "Game of the Century"—the one with the baseball score—will be played once again.

This time Louisiana State and Alabama won't meet on either home field, though with the Jan. 9 BCS title tilt set for New Orleans, it may as well be one for the Tigers.

There was a lot that was memorable about the first encounter, a 9-6 overtime win for LSU on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., especially if you love Ravens' and Steelers' style defense.

What will happen in Round 2?

Here are 10 bold predictions.

Alabama Will Score an Offensive Touchdown

Neither team was able to cross into the end zone in the first meeting between these two teams, but it wasn't as if Trent Richardson didn't give it the best shot possible.

A Heisman Trophy front-runner, Richardson carried 23 times for 89 yards (3.9 ypc) and caught five passes for another 80 yards (16 ypc).

Expect a similar output in the rematch, except with a touchdown thrown in.

LSU Will Score a Defensive Touchdown

Just like Alabama, LSU has one of the best defenses college football has seen, maybe ever.

And the Tigers are very opportunistic.

Look for the secondary to make a big play—perhaps off of an interception—that ends with a touchdown.

The best candidates to make this happen are the "Honey Badger", Tyrann Mathieu, who should be a Heisman Trophy finalist (but won't be because he plays defense and was suspended earlier in the season) or Morris Claiborne, a cornerback ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says is the best in college football at his position.

A.J. McCarron Will Play Better

Arguably, one of Alabama's weakest links in the first game was quarterback A.J. McCarron.

Sure, his numbers aren't all that bad, but his impact was minimal.

So, in the rematch expect McCarron to finish better than 16-of-28 for 199 yards with an interception.

He's not going to take over the game, but he is capable of managing it more efficiently. He may even take a few more risks, which could lead to one more interception.

Look for him to go something like 18-for-27 for 235 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Nothing great, but an improvement.

The Two Teams Will Combine for More Than Three Sacks

The first meeting between LSU and Alabama was a defensive struggle, but one without many sacks.

Tigers defensive end Sam Montgomery sacked A.J. McCarron twice, and Courtney Upshaw brought down Jordan Jefferson once for the Crimson Tide.

Look for LSU to sack McCarron three times and for Alabama to get to Jefferson three times, as well.

Jordan Jefferson Will Go the Whole Way

The first meeting saw Jarrett Lee start at quarterback for LSU, only to be relieved by Jordan Jefferson after throwing two interceptions in his first seven passes.

Since that game, the Tigers pretty much have gone with Jefferson solely.

That shouldn't change here, as he has proven to be big in big games.

In last year's 41-24 victory against Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, he went 10-of-19 for 158 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also carried 12 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.

The Aggies certainly aren't the Tide when it comes to defense, something they'll learn up close next year in SEC play, but Jefferson is capable of putting up numbers better than the 6-of-10 for 67 yards and 11 carries for 43 yards he did on Nov. 5.

Because Jefferson brings the added dimension of being able to run the ball, if Lee were the starter I could see Jefferson being used in special packages. Lee is more of a drop-back passer, so you really can't throw in extra setups for him.

Nico Johnson Will Wrap Up the Tigers

Alabama's Nico Johnson, perhaps the most unheralded and underrated of the Crimson Tide linebackers, led everyone with 11 tackles in the first contest.

Look for a similar performance out of him this time, recording 12 tackles (nine solo). He'll also break up a pass.

Courtney Upshaw Will Up His Draft Stock

One of the most talented linebackers in the nation, Alabama's Courtney Upshaw could find himself taken in the first round of April's NFL draft.

Look for him to bolster his already sterling reputation with a strong outing against LSU in the BCS Championship Game.

The first time around he had six tackles, including a sack and two quarterback hurries.

He'll put up nine tackles (two of which will go for loss), a quarterback hurry and an interception in the rematch.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

LSU's Australian-born punter, Brad Wing, had a nice game against Alabama the first time around.

There, he punted six times for an average of 38.2 yards, a number skewed on the low side because he had four of his boots downed inside the 20. He also had a long of 73 yards.

Look for Wing to be busy again, punting five times for an average of 44.3 yards with four downed inside the 20. And to he will get to show off some, getting off a 67-yarder.

M&M: Morris and Maze Will Battle All Night

No doubt Alabama will look to get its No. 1 playmaker on the outside, wideout Marquis Maze, more involved in the offense this time.

He caught six passes for a modest 61 yards and also had a carry for negative-6 yards and threw an incomplete pass the first time the Tide and Tigers met.

Look for Maze to be targeted 12 times, catching eight balls. However, stellar LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne once again will do a tremendous job of giving a little, but not a lot, and Maze will finish with 79 receiving yards.

Who Wins?

I could, and probably will, change my mind seven times between now and kickoff on Jan. 9.

But for now, because the game will be on turf, meaning LSU's speed advantage will be slightly more pronounced than it was on the grass in Tuscaloosa, I'm going with the Tigers, 17-13.

Alabama fans, fear not. I picked the Crimson Tide to win the first game, and we all know how that turned out.