LSU to the BCS National Championship Game: A Guide to the Matchup vs. Alabama

It might not be pretty.

It might not be what everyone in the college football world wants to see.

But when it comes down to it, it will be the two best teams in the nation battling it out when LSU and Alabama meet in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.

The Tigers completed a memorable undefeated regular season with a 42-10 win over Georgia in Saturday's SEC Title Game, which in return earned them a spot in the title game. They will face an Alabama team whose only loss came against LSU back on Nov. 5 in a defensive showdown.

So what can we expect from this All-SEC National Championship Game?

Let's break it down right here, right now...

BCS National Championship Information

What: Allstate BCS National Championship Game

Who: LSU vs. Alabama

When: Jan. 9 at 8:30 p.m.

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

TV: ESPN

Payout: US $21.2 Million

LSU's Strength

When it comes to defense, there isn't a better one in the country than LSU, and that all starts with the Tigers' dominant secondary.

All four of LSU's starting defensive backs, Tyrann Mathieu, Mo Claiborne, Eric Reid and Brandon Taylor, will be playing football on Sunday's.

Mathieu and Claiborne are arguably the top-two cornerbacks in the country, and the fact that they get to line up opposite of each other on the football field, makes it almost unfair at times.

Mathieu and Claiborne were fantastic when LSU and Alabama met the first time this season, and it should remain that way when they meet again in the Championship Game.

Alabama's Strength

Defense, defense, defense.

LSU might have the best defense in the country, but Alabama is a very close second.

Both teams are dominant on the defensive side of the ball, which became more than obvious in their 9-6 defensive battle back on Nov. 5.

While LSU has the best secondary in the country, Alabama has the best linebacking core.

Both Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw should, and will likely be, first-round draft picks. The same can be said for Dre Kirkpatrick and Mark Barron. In fact, it's possible that nine or 10 of the starters on Alabama's defense will play in the NFL one day.

These are the two best defenses in the country, so if you like that style of football, this is the game for you!

LSU's Weakness

LSU really doesn't have any major weaknesses, which obviously has plenty to do with the reason they are the only undefeated team in the nation.

If you had to pick out one weakness on this team, it would probably be in the Tigers' passing game.

Jordan Jefferson has been great this season, but he isn't a top-notch passer. He is so valuable because he makes up for his solid, but not great passing skills, with his ability to escape the pocket and run the football.

As far as the receivers, Rueben Randle is one of the best in the nation, but after that, the Tigers haven't gotten a ton of production from their other receivers. But still, a lot of teams in the nation would love to have Russell Shepard and Odell Beckham catching passes for them.

Alabama's Weakness

As mentioned before, Alabama is near flawless on defense, and on offense, they have the best running back in the country in Trent Richardson.

Just like LSU, this team really doesn't have many glaring weaknesses, but if you had to pick one, it would probably be their inexperience at the quarterback position.

A.J. McCarron is in his first year starting at QB for the Tide. If you take a look at his statistics this year, he does have solid numbers with 2,400 yards and 16 touchdowns, but a closer look will show that he has had his best games against weaker competition.

McCarron has passed for more than 200 yards on four separate occasions this season, but those came against Kent State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Tennessee, who had a combined record of 18-30 this season.

McCarron will be an X-Factor heading into this National Championship game.

How LSU Got Here

LSU is the only team in the country to finish the season unbeaten.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic here is that eight of the Tigers' 13 wins this season came against teams that were ranked at the time LSU played them.

LSU's 9-6 win over Alabama on Nov. 5 cemented the Tigers as the No. 1 team in the nation, and then closing out with back-to-back wins over Arkansas and Georgia by a combined score of 83-27 made it more than obvious that the Tigers are the best team in college football.

How Alabama Got Here

The Tide finished the season with an 11-1 record, their only loss coming to this LSU team back on Nov. 5.

Due to Alabama's loss to LSU, they did not get a spot in the SEC Title Game. Despite maintaining the No. 2 ranking in the nation heading into Saturday, many believed that the Tide could fall to No. 3 if Oklahoma State blew out Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, which is exactly what happened.

But despite being idle and the big win by OK State, Alabama edged out the Cowboys in the BCS standings and earned a spot in the title game against LSU.

LSU's Key Player

There isn't a more dynamic player in the country than LSU's Tyrann Mathieu.

He can defend, he can run, he can return punts—he simply does it all for this LSU team.

Mathieu had two exceptional punt returns against Georgia in the SEC Title Game, one of which went for a touchdown, and that made the difference in the final outcome. If he can get loose against Alabama, then the Tide could be in big trouble in this one.

Mathieu is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, and if he wins the award, he could have a national championship trophy to add to his trophy case as well.

Alabama's Key Player

Just as Tyrann Mathieu is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, so is Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Richardson has been nothing short of spectacular this season, running for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns. Not to mention, he did all this in his first year as the team's full-time starting running back.

Richardson had a good game against LSU when these teams met back in November, rushing for 89 yards, but he just wasn't able to get in the end zone. We will see if that can change in this National Championship matchup.

Alabama's goal will be to get Richardson going on offense, and LSU's goal will be to stop him on defense.

Who will get the best of that matchup?

We shall see.

Prediction

If you like defensive-minded football, then this is the game for you.

Both teams will try and establish the run on the offensive side of the ball. While Trent Richardson is by far the best running back in this game, LSU has a variety of backs that are very good as well. These are arguably not only the two best running teams in the SEC, but in the country.

The same can be said on the defensive side of the ball. There is no question that these are the two best defenses in the country, as both love to get pressure on the quarterback and rely on their dominant corners to make plays in the secondary.

Therefore, the X-Factor will likely be the quarterbacks. Who will play better, Jordan Jefferson or A.J. McCarron?

Neither are elite, but both are capable of winning big games.

What makes the difference in this one is that Jefferson has been on the big stage before, being in his fourth year as a starter. For McCarron this is all new, and that very well could make the difference in this much-anticipated rematch here.

Look for plenty of running and plenty of big hits on defense. But when it is all said and done, LSU will be walking away with a National Championship trophy in their hands.

Prediction: LSU 17, Alabama 10