The Road

Here’s TideTV’s production recapping the season:

Go here to watch.

LSU highlights

Just to show we’re unbiased, here are the LSU highlights from the National Championship game:

Ain’t this pretty?

Here’s this week’s cover for Sports Illustrated:

Very nice.

Yes. We. Did.

A little “Rammer Jammer” from New Orleans:

This must be “Beat LSU” week

LSU is 0-2 for the week against Alabama after getting beat 69-53 in basketball last night in T-Town.

At one point in the second half Alabama went ahead by 21 points. The crowd gave the team a standing ovation.

Favorite signs in the crowd:

“Will LSU get across the half-court line?”

“Have Yeaux had enough?”

And best of all:

“Put Jarrett Lee in”

Alabama 21, LSU 0

Well, that’s what you call “saving the best for last.” Most people believed that LSU was the best all-around team college football had seen in the last quarter-century. Most people were wrong. The weakness of the Tigers all year has been on the offensive side of the ball (though you certainly would not be able to prove that from the statistics the LSU offense has posted) and that’s certainly not an insult to the offense. It’s just that the Tiger defense was first-rate and the offense good enough to move the ball and score on every team in the country — every team but one.

The same could be said for Alabama. The offense has clearly been the weakest part of the team (well, along with special teams). The defense has been the best defense the Tide has ever had (and yes, I’m not forgetting the 92 champs or the 61 champs) — this one was the best and proved it Monday night. They were able to hold LSU to five (5!) first downs all night. They only allowed LSU into Alabama territory one time (yes, you read it correctly, the LSU offense only crossed the 50 yard-line once . . . in the fourth quarter). They exposed the LSU offensive weakness (line and QB) and left the Tigers beaten, whipped, and ready to quit . . . and with only 92 total yards gained for the entire game. Alabama is the first team since Oklahoma in 1986 to lead the nation in fewest points allowed, rushing defense, passing defense and total defense.

On the other side, LSU’s offense was unable to exploit a weakened Bama defensive backfield (with none of the dbs playing at 100% because of nagging injuries). They apparently felt that they didn’t need to make any changes from their offensive scheme used in the November 5 game — which proved to be a huge, no, make that HUGE mistake.

After the game, the Lester said, “I didn’t see that coming.” Really? Where were you on November 5, Les? LSU was unable to move the ball consistently on November 5, yet somehow believed that they would be able to do so on January 9 . . . with the same offensive approach? Wow. Les was clearly more willing to believe the stories written about his team rather than what he saw with his own eyes in the first game. Not even the defense appeared prepared to counteract the Tide’s attack (if the Honey Badger takes what he wants — apparently he had no desire to make a difference in this game). The fault here, however, lies with a coaching staff that encouraged a deadly complacency and self-confidence against the only team in the country that was capable of beating them.

Alabama for its part, made several critical adjustments from the November 5 game. The Tide coaches realized that we needed to be more aggressive on first down against the superb LSU defense. We had to throw the ball more and we did. There were also changes made in special teams’ coverage and return units — to take away the advantage LSU had in those areas . . . and these adjustments worked as well. Bama realized that you can’t beat a great team without seeking to nullify their strengths (the running game and special teams) and exploiting their weaknesses. Rather than ignoring November 5, we learned from it. And that made the difference in this game.

The Alabama offense was (as it has been all year with the exception of one game) good enough against the second best defense in the country. The Tide kept them off balance and on their heels the entire game. Only when Bama got deep into LSU territory was the Tiger defense to stop them. AJ McCarron played his best game of the season (well, maybe his second best game, Auburn may have been his best game) and Alabama’s offensive line gave him the protection needed to make quick passes and gain important yards against the LSU defense. The line also was able to opened the way for Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy to do their work as well — with the capper being Richardson’s 34 TD run for Bama’s final score.

In the end, Alabama put down the most decisive victory that has ever been seen in a BCS National Championship game. The first shutout in the game’s history. Les Miles said it would be “Big Boy” football. It was. Except only one “Big Boy” showed up.

So, by Monday evening, things were again just as they are supposed to be in the world of college football.

Oh, and if you’re counting, that’s fourteen National Championships.

In April, we’ll start preparation for number 15.

RTR.

Here we go

The pretty ball’s back home.

We want this

Alabama – LSU

Are you ready?

The BCS Championship Game

Now we come to the one we’ve all been waiting for — Armageddon II:

January 9

The BCS National Championship Game: Alabama vs. LSU

Everyone is expecting this game to be a replay of the November 5th game — but it ain’t gonna be. This time both teams will be more loose, the offenses for both will be more wide open, more chances will be taken, everything is on the line, nothing will be held back. And that means — more scoring. NOT 35-34-type scoring, but more scoring.

Last time, LSU played the game pretty much error-free and made the plays they needed to make to win. They will have to do more this time.

Last time, Alabama took some chances that they should not have taken and made mistakes and didn’t make the plays they needed to make to win. They will have to make the plays and not make the mistakes this time.

If we were LSU fans, we’d be concerned. It’s hard enough to defeat a good team once during a season. To be asked to do it twice is a lot to ask.

In fact, this time, it’s too much to ask.

Alabama wins and takes home its 14th National Championship.

RTR.

The SEC goes bowling (2)

Yep, the bowl season has finally arrived with the SEC teams taking the field. Today, we look at the January 1 bowls (which this year are played on January 2). The SEC will continue to roll.

January 2:
Outback Bowl: Michigan St. at Georgia

If it’s a New Year’s Day Bowl game, you know it’s time for Michigan State to get trampled by an SEC team! It’s New Year’s . . . so . . . “whuppin time” has arrived for Sparty! Georgia is excited once again to have the easiest schedule in the SEC (see the new 2012 SEC schedule) and will celebrate by treating Michigan State like the Thénardiers treated Cosette. Not only will they get the victory, they also get the opportunity to take out their frustrations left over from the SEC Championship game (where they got handled like they were the Sun Belt champs instead of the SEC East champs). It’s Aaron Murray time — the Dawgs all day and all the way.

Gator Bowl: Ohio St. at Florida

Welcome to the Urban Meyer Bowl: Ohio “We’re facing a bowl ban but we don’t care cause we hired Urban” State vs. the Florida “How dare Urban leave us for them” Gators. Here’s the one opportunity for the Big 10/11/12 to get a victory over the SEC. Florida is terrible. No, make that: Florida is terrible! The one thing going for the Gators is that their offensive coordinator, Charlie “Super-size-me” Weiss, has waddled off to Kansas — and that will no doubt be a huge weight off their shoulders (and other parts of their anatomy) — so maybe, maybe, they’ll actually be able to do something on offense — like actually score a touchdown. If so, the Gators win.

Capital One Bowl: Nebraska at South Carolina

Another Big 10/11/12 — SEC matchup . . . and another SEC victory. It’s been a while since USC East has been in a New Year’s Day bowl game and so, the Game Chickens ought to be fired up. They may be the only team in the country who improved after suspending their starting quarterback. The Mad Visor will have them ready to play and that will be enough for a “W” against the Cornhuskers.

January 6:
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Arkansas at Kansas State

Arkansas should be playing in the Sugar Bowl, but, all things considered, the Cotton Bowl is not a bad consolation prize. And, being able to play an overrated Kansas State team is just icing on the cake. Expect the Hawgs to come out like a well tuned Ferrari. Expect a big day from Tyler Wilson and the Pig’s defense. This one may get UGLY before it’s over.

And with this win, Arkansas insures a sweep for SEC in this year’s bowls. The Best just keep getting Better.

Next week we look at the BCS National Championship Game — where finally a SEC team is going to lose a bowl game.