LSU vs Alabama Rematch: Miles Is Coach of the Year, but Can He Outcoach Saban?

Heading into the Alabama-LSU rematch, we know what these two teams have to offer. We know they are fantastic running teams and they both play suffocating defense. We know what to expect heading into the national championship as we saw the game take place a few weeks ago.

But one of the best matchups of all is the chess match that will be taking place on the sidelines. It will be against two of the top head coaches in the country in Nick Saban and Les Miles.

Both coaches are very accomplished and have completely different styles of coaching.

Saban is more of the conservative type, and Les Miles is the gambler and enjoys taking risks in the most crazy spots imaginable.

We are use to Miles running trick plays and faking field goals when the opposing teams would least expect it. LSU is known for going for it on fourth down and running flea-flickers with Miles is on the sidelines.

And for some strange reason, it normally always pays off for the head coach.

The problem is, in the game earlier against Alabama, Miles chose to be the conservative one. There were no trick plays involved in his game plan. He would punt when he had to, he played the field position game and didn't go for it on fourth down at all.

It was actually Nick Saban who was feeling lucky as he tried a couple of reverse plays and then didn't give the ball to his best player at all in overtime. Guess he was trying to catch the Tigers defense off guard by throwing three times.

The unlikely aggressive style of Nick Saban wasn't the reason the Crimson Tide lost the game, but it sure didn't help their case.

Saban is 2-3 against Les Miles and has lost the last two meetings against LSU.

With the coaching performances both coaches gave a month ago, you'd have to believe that Miles will once again out-coach Alabama's head coach.

Especially when you have no idea what the 'Mad Hatter' will do next.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]