2011 December Madness, College Football Playoff: LSU vs. Louisiana Tech

For the eighth consecutive season, Whatifsports.com is proud to present the ultimate college football playoff in a tournament we refer to as December Madness 2011.

Over the next three weeks, the Top 16 college football teams (11 conference champions and five at-large programs based on BCS rating) will compete for the December Madness title.

Utilizing our award-winning college football simulation engine, we "play" each matchup 1,001 times.

View the December Madness playoff bracket and complete box score here.

Top-seeded LSU ran the regular-season table and beat eight teams ranked in the Top 25—this included a Southeastern Conference victory at second-ranked Alabama. With Jordan Jefferson suspended to begin the season, Jarrett Lee started the first nine games at quarterback, but lost his gig after tossing two interceptions against the Crimson Tide.

In the Tigers' final four games, including the SEC championship game, they averaged 284.3 yards a game on the ground and had 14 rushing touchdowns.

The LSU defense, led by Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu, remains the team's backbone. The Tigers finished second in the nation in scoring defense, at 10.5 points allowed per game. Opposing offenses managed to score more than 10 points only four times, and that includes Florida's 11-point effort.

Louisiana Tech was predicted to finish fourth in the Western Athletic Conference this season. Instead, with four starters back on each side of the ball, the Bulldogs finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and took the WAC title.

Two of their four losses were to Southern Miss (11-2) and Houston (12-1) by a combined three points. Punter Ryan Allen (46.3 yards per punt) recently took home the Ray Guy Award for excelling at the position.

Game recap

Full of swagger and ready to roll over the lowly Bulldogs, LSU came out flat in its first-round matchup.

Louisiana Tech marched down the field and picked up 59 yards on its first three plays from scrimmage. Colby Cameron hit Hunter Lee to cap the four-play, 62-yard drive and give the underdog a 7-0 lead.

It was fun while it lasted—51 seconds to be exact.

That's how long it took LSU to tie the game via a 47-yard screen pass from Jefferson to Deangelo Peterson. Later in the quarter, Jefferson called his own number and ran it in from 10 yards out. The 14 points were all the Tigers needed.

After racking up 63 yards on their first drive, the Bulldogs were held to 160 yards the rest of the game.

Michael Ford led LSU with 85 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

The Tigers advance to the second round with their 34-7 win.

Player of the game: Michael Ford (85 yards, two TDs)

Winning percentage of 1,001 simulations: LSU 96.1 percent, Louisiana Tech 3.9 percent