LSU Vs. Alabama: Football Game May Impact Two Championships

The #3 Alabama Crimson Tide face off against the #9 LSU Tigers and nothing less than a chance to play for the national title may be on the line. Although it isn't guaranteed that a Southeast Conference football team will play in the national championship, there is a very good chance that that could very well happen. And when the two suffocating defenses of Alabama and LSU meet in Tuscaloosa Saturday, expect a hardfought game, probably low-scoring, and which could possibly be decided by the football team that makes a crucial turnover and gives their opponent just enough of an advantage. The model of Saturday's game was most likely the football game played earlier this season between Florida and LSU, where the #1 Gators walked away with the victory, 13-3. Alabama will hope to emulate that feat.

Going into the game, if there is an advantage statistically, it is that Alabama is ranked 33rd in the nation in total offense while LSU is ranked at #100. Alabama has the 13th ranked rushing offense in the nation, whereas LSU sits at No. 69. That discrepancy could cost LSU the football game, if games were played out by statistical probability. But they are not and the Tigers know it.

The story will be in the defenses. Going up against Alabama's 13th ranked rushing offense is the No. 4 ranked Red Zone defense in the country. On the other side of possession, LSU's offense is facing the 10th ranked Red Zone defense and the 4th ranked defense in total defense. LSU's defense is ranked a respectable 15th nationally.

Don't expect much in the way of passing except to throw the other team off a bit. Alabama is ranked 93rd, LSU 96th in passing offense. Both teams have intercepted their opponents 11 times this season. And Alabama has sacked their opponents' quarterbacks 23 times going into the game. LSU has gotten to their opponents' quarterbacks 11 times. Both teams' defenses have recoverd 5 fumbles.

But, as stated, statistics are meaningless in the moment. Statistics exist to show what players and teams have done in the past, what they are capable of achieving. However, they exist only as color commentary fodder in the moment of a current football contest. LSU and Alabama both know this. They also know that the winner of the Saturday's battle will more than likely play Florida for the SEC championhip game, the winner of which more than likely becoming one of the two teams playing for the BCS national championship.

LSU goes into Tuscaloosa knowing that a loss drops them further in the AP Poll and the all-important BCS rankings and absolutely no chance at a national championship game slot. A win puts them at the top of the SEC West and gives them a shot at a rematch with the #1 ranked and defending national champions, the Florida Gators, in the SEC Championship game. Handing the #1 team their first loss of the season (provided, of course, that the Florida football squad remains undefeated) gives LSU the right to (if not the ranking) to play in the BCS championship game because their only loss had been to a team that hadn't lost in 20+ games.

Alabama walks onto the field undefeated. Remaining undefeated places them two games up on LSU and three on Auburn in the SEC West. And even if they lose in the following weeks, beating LSU clinches first place and a chance to play Florida in the SEC championship game. Beating Florida -- for Alabama -- most assuredly gets them their ticket to the BCS Championship game.

So the football game in Tuscaloosa has high stake for both teams, with SEC championship implications (not to mention national championship implications -- although LSU may have to contend with several undefeated teams for the right to play).

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Author's note: Roll Tide!

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Source:

NCAA.org