2011-2012 BOWL Game Best Bets + BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR !

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I put in this wager when it first came out......I've seen the line climb up to 9.5.......i just might try to middle it if it goes to 10.......

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Saturday, January 7

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Southern Methodist - 1:00 PM ET Southern Methodist +3.5 500

Pittsburgh - Over 47 500

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SMU And Pitt Collide In BBVA Compass Bowl

Once upon a time in college football history (and within memory for many), a bowl matchup between SMU and Pittsburgh stopped everyone in their tracks. More on that in a moment.

Their next meeting on Saturday isn’t likely to generate nearly as much attention, but the contest will at least remind supporters both ways of better times and the hope that someday the Mustangs and Panthers might return to the nation’s elite.

The schedule tells us that SMU (7-5 straight up, 4-8 against the spread) will be facing Pittsburgh (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) at Birmingham’s venerable Legion Field on Saturday in the BBVA Compass Bowl. A check of the Don Best odds pages notes that the Big East Panthers are priced anywhere from 3-3½ point favorites at most Las Vegas wagering outlets, with the total mostly at 47 (though a stray 47½ or 48 could still be found at midweek).

Kickoff on Saturday will be at 1:00 p.m. (ET), before NFL playoff action commences later in the day. ESPN will provide TV coverage.

Mention of SMU and Pitt in the same breath will forever recall the memorable 1982 season, and the January 1, 1983 Cotton Bowl in particular. Those were the "Pony Express" Mustangs of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, and the Panthers of Dan Marino.

Both hovered near the top of the polls all season, and for one week in early November actually ran 1-2 in the rankings before Pitt was stunned by Notre Dame, 31-16, in what might have been Gerry Faust’s finest hour as Irish coach. SMU stayed unbeaten and was then jockeying with Herschel Walker’s Georgia for the top spot in the polls before a regular-season ending 17-17 draw vs. Lou Holtz’ Arkansas Razorbacks at Texas Stadium, the home base of the Ponies in those days. That hurt national championship hopes but SMU had still done enough to win the old Southwest Conference and a New Year’s Day berth in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl.

Meanwhile, Pitt, which relinquished serious national title hopes after the loss to Notre Dame, also dropped its finale vs. Penn State, but was still regarded as a desirable bowl entry because of Marino. The Panthers, sixth in the final regular-season polls, would tackle fourth-ranked SMU in the Cotton Bowl.

In retrospect, that 1983 Cotton Bowl was a showcase for two of the biggest college stars of the generation, Dickerson and Marino, each of whom would go on to record-setting NFL careers and become featured components of the fabled '83 NFL Draft. Marino’s senior year had been something of a disappointment, caused, some believed, by the coaching switch prior to that ‘82 season in which Jackie Sherrill jumped from Pitt to Texas A&M.

Foge Fazio, promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, provided uninspired leadership for the Panthers, immediately reflected in the downturn in Marino’s stats and ultimately causing his NFL Draft stock to plummet to the bottom of a star-filled and QB-heavy first round. That's where Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins selected Marino, and you know the rest of that story.

As for Fazio, he oversaw a decline in Panther fortunes until his dismissal after the 1986 campaign. SMU also had a first-year coach in 1982, Bobby Collins, brought in from Southern Miss to replace Ron Meyer, who moved to the NFL New England Patriots.

The bowl meeting between the schools which promised so much offense instead evolved into a defensive war. Both sides reached deep into the other’s territory in their first drives, only to be sidetracked by fumbles, Pitt’s caused by hard-hitting SMU safety Wes Hopkins, another from that Cotton Bowl who would go on to a long and decorated NFL career.

Pitt, which confused the Ponies early with then-radical four wideout looks that day in Dallas, was eventually stymied. Meanwhile, the robust Panther "D" was keeping the Pony Express in relative check, as the reconfigured Mustang alignments with both Dickerson and James in the backfield at once (rather than rotating as usual) netted only modest results.

The Panthers did not get onto the board until a third quarter drive netted Eric Schubert’s 43-yard field goal to putt Pitt up 3-0. SMU answered, however, with QB Lance McIlhenny piloting an 80-yard drive that spanned into the fourth quarter. A key 42-yard pass to WR Bobby Leach moved the ball to the Pitt 20. Three plays later, McIlhenny ran a basic option, first faking a handoff to Dickerson on the dive, then faking a pitch to James before keeping the ball himself for a 9-yard TD run with 13:43 to play.

That was it for the scoring on the day, although the Ponies still needed to pick off Marino in the SMU end zone deep in the fourth quarter on a pass deflected by that man Hopkins into the hands of safety Blane Smith. The 7-3 scoreline in favor of SMU stood until the final gun. Stat-wise, Dickerson rushed for 124 yards and James 54 more, while Marino posted decidedly modest stats (19-of -37, 181 yards).

Yet memories of that game are a bit bittersweet for both sides, as neither has hinted at national honors since. SMU, of course, endured the unthinkable death penalty four years later. Perhaps Saturday’s BBVA Compass Bowl will provide the impetus for both programs to eventually recall those past glories.

In the meantime, this year’s meeting has its own intriguing storylines, though they have little to do with action on the field. In the Panthers’ case, coach Todd Graham abruptly resigned during preparation for the bowl, taking the Arizona State job and leaving Pitt to be coached on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Keith Patterson for the bowl game. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has been enlisted as the Panthers’ new coach for 2012.

If the scenario sounds a bit familiar at Pitt, it should, because the Panthers were in a similar predicament last year at this very bowl game in Birmingham. Twelve months ago, the Panthers had just fired coach Dave Wannstedt, then dismissed successor Mike Haywood due to domestic violence charges before the bowl game vs. Kentucky. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, who ironically had earlier been SMU’s head coach, then stewarded Pitt to a 27-10 win over the Wildcats. So it’s a little deja vu for Pitt in Birmingham.

As for the Mustangs, they’ve had an interesting six weeks since their regular season concluded, too, as coach June Jones seemed set to take the Arizona State job before boosters in Tempe nixed the deal. And, as mentioned, it was Pitt’s Graham who eventually took the Sun Devils’ post.

Though SMU’s 7-5 straight-up record is better than Pitt’s 6-6, the Mustangs were not playing better than the Panthers down the stretch. Indeed, SMU dropped its last six pointspread decisions as the Jones’ Red Gun offense began to stall behind increasingly erratic performances from QB T.J. McDermott, who tossed 11 picks and just six TD passes in the second half of the campaign. The Ponies also weren’t helped when leading rusher Zach Line, who gained 1224 yards rushing, went down with a November knee injury and will miss the bowl game.

Even with Line, the Ponies’ rush game was one of the worst in the country, and ranks a lowly 118th. Moreover, SMU was very mistake-prone, with a nation’s-worst -17 turnover margin.

Meanwhile, Pitt enters Birmingham having covered five in a row and narrowly missing out on an unlikely BCS bid had the Panthers not blown a late lead in the Backyard Brawl at West Virginia on November 25. Graham’s offense, however, looked nothing like the attack he presided over in his previous stop Tulsa, perhaps because offensive coordinator Chad Morris didn’t accompany Graham to Pitt (Morris moved to a similar role at Clemson).

Panther QBs were sacked a nation’s-high 55 times this season, and QB Tino Sunseri’s numbers were not as good as they were a year ago. Moreover, top rusher Ray Graham went down at midseason with a knee injury, though Wisconsin transfer Zach Brown ran with some flair before he, too, was injured in the Syracuse finale. Sources say Brown’s bruised sternum healed enough for him to play vs. SMU.

Defensively, sources believe Pitt might have an advantage with the nation’s fourth-ranked sack defense led by DE Aaron Donald and OLB Brandon Lindsey, who combined for 18½ sacks between them.

Still, who knows what might transpire in Birmingham? We might see another 7-3 scoreline, just like we witnessed 29 years ago when these sides last met in Dallas.

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Huskies & Red Wolves At GoDaddy.com Bowl

Two of this season’s most exciting non-BCS teams meet in the GoDaddy.com Bowl Sunday night when the Arkansas State Red Wolves take on the Northern Illinois Huskies in Mobile, Alabama.

Arkansas State is currently a slight 1½-point favorite on the Don Best odds screen. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN and will begin at 9:00 p.m. (ET).

Anyone who favors offense over defense will have one more chance before Monday’s defense-heavy BCS National Championship Game to enjoy some shoot-out football. Arkansas State’s Ryan Aplin and Northern Illinois’ Chandler Harnish are both exciting dual-threat quarterbacks that have produced highlight-reel plays all season long.

Northern Illinois (10-3) started the season off 2-3 SU (1-4 ATS), but hit its stride after the conference loss to Central Michigan and went on to win the final eight games (4-4 ATS), including the MAC Championship over Ohio.

Harnish was magnificent both throwing and running the ball. His 2,942 passing yards with 26 touchdown passes to just five interceptions was impressive enough, but the senior quarterback also rushed for 1,382 yards (averaging 7.5 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. Along with running back Jasmin Hopkins who rushed for 932 yards and 15 touchdowns, Harnish led Northern Illinois to the eighth best rushing attack in the nation (247.6 points per game) and the 13th ranked scoring offense (38.3 points per game).

Arkansas State (10-2) was one of the best betting options of the 2011 season. After starting off the year 1-2 SU (but 3-0 ATS covering the spread in losses at Illinois and Virginia Tech), the Red Wolves finished the season with nine straight wins (7-2 ATS) to go undefeated in the Sun Belt Conference and lock up the title.

Fueled by Ryan Aplin’s 3,235 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns (with 13 interceptions), the Red Wolves finished the season 18th in the nation in passing yards per game and 26th in the nation in scoring with 33.5 points per game. Aplin also added 605 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground on 151 carries. Wide receiver Dwayne Frampton should have a big day Sunday, hauling in 90 catches for 1,125 yards and six touchdowns this season.

While the Red Wolves had a strong season offensively, the key to their success this season, and perhaps the key to this game, was their defense. Just one year removed from an abysmal unit that gave up 31 points a contest, this year’s Arkansas State team finished 14th in the nation in scoring defense by allowing just 19.3 points per game. The defense was consistent too, as Arkansas State didn’t allow more than 24 points in any of its eight conference games.

Going up against a Northern Illinois team that finished 89th in the nation allowing 31.1 points per game, Arkansas State’s edge on defense could be the difference. That said, Northern Illinois has the slight edge on offense, so it may all just come down to the tempo of the game.

With Arkansas State’s strong defensive efforts this season, the total went ‘under’ in eight of its 12 games. The total has also gone ‘under’ in four of Northern Illinois’ last six games. Sunday’s total is currently set at 63.

Mother Nature isn't expected to interfere with the game. There's just a 10 percent chance of rain Sunday in Mobile where cloudy skies and the thermometer in the upper-50s are in the forecast.

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What bettors need to know: Go Daddy.com Bowl

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (+1.5, 65)

GO DADDY.COM BOWL STORYLINES

1. Arkansas State has a new coach in Gus Malzahn, the former offensive coordinator at Auburn. But Malzahn, who tutored Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and helped the Tigers win the 2010 national championship, will not be on the sidelines. Arkansas State will be led by interim head coach David Gunn, who was recently asked by Malzahn to return and be a part of the staff. Gunn was named interim coach after Hugh Freeze resigned to become head coach at Ole Miss.

2. Arkansas State has won nine straight thanks to a balanced approach. The Red Wolves became the first team in school history to record 5,000 yards of offense, scored 30 or more points in eight games this season and more than 45 in their last two contests. They also rank No. 1 in in the Sun Belt in total defense and scoring defense.

3. Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish has been impressive under pressure. He’s coming off perhaps his best performance, leading the Huskies to a 23-20 comeback win against Ohio in the MAC championship game. The four-year starter was voted the MAC’s Player of the Year and needs only 45 rushing yards to become the third FBS quarterback to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 8,000 yards in his career.

TV: ESPN

WEATHER: There is a 29 percent chance of rain in Mobile, Alabama. Temperatures will be in the high 50s.

LINE: Arkansas State has moved slightly from -1 to -1.5. The total has jumped from 62 to 65 points since post.

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE (10-2, 8-0 Sun Belt, 10-2 ATS): The Red Wolves feature the Players of the Year on offense and defense from the Sun Belt Conference. Quarterback Ryan Aplin led the conference in total offense with 320 yard per game. Aplin threw for 269.6 yards per game and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 10 scores. He became only the second player in conference history to record 3,000 yards of total offense in two different seasons. The defensive leader is lineman Brandon Joiner, who led the league with 12 sacks and had 15.5 tackles for loss. Other first-team all-conference players include receiver Dwayne Frampton (90 catches, 1,125 yards, six TDs), offensive lineman Tom Castilaw, linebacker Demario Davis (65 tackles), and defensive backs Darryl Feemster (five interceptions) and Kelcie McCray (62 tackles, four interceptions).

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (10-3, 7-1 MAC, 5-8 ATS): The Huskies revolve around QB Chandler Harnish, who led the MAC in rushing (112.6 yards). Harnish rushed for 1,351 yards and threw for 2,692 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. He’s got an outstanding offensive line, led by center Scott Wedige and tackle Trevor Olson, both all-MAC selections. The line hasn’t allowed a sack all season. Running back Jasmin Hopkins ran for 872 yards and scored a team-leading 15 TDs. The young defense is led by linebacker Pat Schiller (108 tackles, 10 tackles for loss), end Sean Progar (11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) and safety Jimmie Ward (93 tackles). Kicker Mathew Sims hit 18 of 23 field goals and scored a school-record 111 points.

TRENDS:

* Red Wolves are 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
* Huskies are 1-8 ATS in their last nine neutral-site games.
* Under is 12-3-1 in Red Wolves' last 16 non-conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Huskies' last eight neutral-site games.

PREDICTION: Northern Illinois 34, Arkansas State 28 – Two-way threat Harnish closes his remarkable career with a bowl victory.

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NCAAF

Sunday, January 8

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Arkansas State - 9:00 PM ET Arkansas State -1.5 500

Northern Illinois - Over 63 500

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Good luck, Bum! Thanks!

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Thanks Dog.......and Happy New Year to you .....

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Alabama Gets Second Shot At LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers would never admit it, but the last team they want to face in the BCS title game on Monday, January 9 is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Don Best has the college football odds and LSU is a somewhat surprising 1-point underdog with a total of 40 points.

ESPN will broadcast at 8:30 p.m. (ET) from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The one thing for certain is an SEC school will win the national title for the sixth straight year.

LSU thought it ended Alabama’s title hopes with a 9-6 OT road win in Tuscaloosa back on November 5. That was the first regular season clash between No. 1 and No. 2 since 2006. However, the Crimson Tide won their final three games and got huge help with losses by Stanford and Oklahoma State, just sneaking past the latter to make this game.

Coach Les Miles is saying all the right things about looking forward to playing Alabama again, but a lie-detector test would surely prove otherwise. LSU would have preferred an offensive juggernaut like Oklahoma State, which beat Stanford in a wild 41-38 OT Fiesta Bowl, rather than play a mirror image of itself in 'Bama.

The Tigers (13-0 SU, 10-3 ATS) have been the unanimous No. 1 team in the country since back in late October. The have taken on all comers, starting with then No. 3 Oregon in a neutral site contest on Sept. 3, playing eight top-25 teams in all.

LSU ranks 12th in the country in scoring offense (38.5 PPG) and second in defense (10.5 PPG). It tends to wear teams down, outscoring Arkansas and Georgia by a combined 55-3 the last two second halves. The only two times the Tigers have been held under 35 points overall was the Alabama game and a 19-6 win at Mississippi State back in September.

Miles is an extremely aggressive coach on the field and isn’t afraid to shake thing up personnel wise. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson replaced fellow senior Jarrett Lee in the second half of the Alabama game after Lee threw two picks. Jefferson was then the starter for the final four contests.

Jefferson only averaged 15.8 pass attempts the final four games, but he’ll have to put it up more here if Alabama controls the running game. Jefferson has just one pick in 83 attempts and has a great target in receiver Rueben Randle (904 yards). Jefferson is also a very good runner, unlike Lee, and will use his legs to pick up first downs.

Special teams are also a huge part of LSU’s attack with cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne extremely dangerous in punt and kick returns respectively.

LSU has a stable of running backs with Michael Ford (755 yards), Spencer Ware (700), Alfred Blue (539) and Kenny Hilliard (320) all having their own style and Miles not afraid to use any.

The Crimson Tide (11-1 SU, 8-4 ATS) know they’re very fortunate to be here, not even having to play in a conference title game. The fact they’re a small favorite points to the fact it’s very hard to beat a team of their caliber twice in one season.

Alabama’s offense scores 36 PPG (ranked 16th) and the defense is tops nationally in both points (8.8 PPG) and yards allowed (191.2 YPG). The second figure is 60.8 YPG less than LSU and the unit boasts four, first- and second-team AP All-Americans in linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, safety Mark Barron and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

Coach Nick Saban wants to rely on his defense and running game. Junior Trent Richardson has rushed for 1,583 yards, including 505 over his final three games. He was held to just 89 yards on 23 attempts (3.9 average) in the first meeting and will be looking to atone in surely his final game before turning pro.

Sophomore quarterback A.J. McCarron went 16-of-28 for 199 yards in the first game, but had a key interception and couldn’t get his team into the end zone. This is his chance to step up on the biggest of stages.

Saban’s biggest worry this week could be kicking game. 'Bama missed four field goals against LSU, all of which were 44 yards or more. He may have to take some chances on fourth down to get some closer kicks.

The Don Best Linemakers Poll has LSU as the No. 1 team like everyone else. The 124.0 ranking gives it an edge over No. 2 Alabama (122.7).

Alabama is looking for its 14th national title, the last in 2009 under Saban. LSU is going for a fourth championship, winning in 2007 under Miles and 2003 when Saban was the leader in Baton Rouge.

LSU is 5-1 ATS in its last six bowl games. The ‘over’ is 5-0 in Alabama’s last five bowls.

Weather will not be an issue playing in the dome.


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Bettors Like Alabama Over LSU In BCS Championship

Did another salty blow off the gulf shut the Big Easy down? Has a Southern Baptist convention taken over the city? Are they no longer serving alcohol at Pat O'Brien's?

It has been a quiet week leading up to Monday's big matchup between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide. Even the self-anointed worldwide leader in sports is having trouble coming up with stories, with ESPN loading up with feel-good profiles about some of the individual combatants who will be taking part in the BCS National Championship.

Part of the slow news out of the Big Easy might have to do with the Tigers and Crimson Tide being familiar foes. There's a sense of 'been there, done that' to this clash with the two SEC rivals meeting annually. Not only do their own fans go through this each season, the rest of the nation outside the Southeastern Conference saw this game in November when the teams met previously as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the land.

Compounding that ambivalence towards this NCAA title tilt is the fact much of the country is firmly engrossed in the NFL Playoffs. Indeed, Crescent City's own inhabitants are far more interested in Saturday's game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome between their beloved New Orleans Saints and the Detroit Lions. Once that game goes final, perhaps the 'Bama-LSU game won't be such a tough sell and the pregame revelry will finally get underway in earnest.

Oddsmakers are also finding LSU to be a tough sell in recent days. College football betting lines originally had the game a pick, with the spread moving a point back and forth along the way in early trading. Alabama has moved to 1½-2 point favorites this week. The Nov. 5 meeting in Tuscaloosa closed with the Tide laying 5-5½.

Monday's total has settled in at 40 after initially being set at 39.

The 9-6 overtime win in the November contest was the second straight in the series for LSU, with the Tigers dominating the head-to-head meetings in recent years (7-2 straight up). The Bayou Bengals are 4-3-2 against the spread in that span with the totals split (4-4-1). Only once in that stretch has either team scored more than 28 points, and that came in the 2007 matchup in Tuscaloosa when both teams found their offensive strides and LSU rallied for a 41-34 victory with two touchdowns in the final two minutes and 49 seconds of the game.

AJ McCarron and the Tide had just enough offense earlier this season when facing LSU, but Alabama couldn't cross the goal line and a pair of kickers combined to miss four field goals, including a 52-yarder in overtime. Though 'Bama will rely as much as possible on Trent Richardson and the running game, keeping the Tigers defense honest by finding some of his outside receivers will be crucial for McCarron.

Along those lines, the Crimson Tide got some good news this week on the injury front with a pair of receivers both upgraded to probable. Darius Hanks, who missed the final two games of the regular season with an ankle injury, is expected to play. Hanks ranks fourth on the Tide stats sheet in receptions (21) and receiving yards (270) despite missing a total of four games.

Backup receivers DeAndrew White should also be available after some late-season shenanigans led to a suspension.

LSU is also expected to be at full strength for the game. Starting safety Brandon Taylor, second on the team with 67 tackles, is probable with a foot injury, and he completes a very strong defensive backfield for the Tigers that also includes corners Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne plus safety Eric Reed.

There were also rumors that quarterback Jarrett Lee might be academically ineligible for LSU. Those rumors have been laid to rest and Lee is expected to be available in a backup role to Jordan Jefferson after starting the first nine games under center for the Tigers.

The team ranked No. 1 entering game has won the last two BCS Championships, with Alabama topping Texas in 2010 and Auburn taking down Oregon last year. Before that, however, the No. 2 team won four of the title tilts -- Texas over USC in 2006, Florida beating Ohio State in 2007, LSU against Ohio State in 2008 and Florida triumphant over Oklahoma in 2009. Since the title game's inception in 1999, the No. 1 team is 7-6 in the matchups.

ESPN has the kickoff a little past 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Monday.

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BCS Championship

January 8, 2012

For the first time since Jan. 2 of 1997, the national title will be decided in a rematch of a regular-season game. On that night at the Superdome in New Orleans, Florida avenged a 24-21 loss at FSU by trouncing the Seminoles by a 52-20 count.

This time around, we have a pair of bitter SEC rivals meeting again at the same venue in the Big Easy. Louisiana State (13-0 straight up, 10-3 against the spread) won a 9-6 decision at Alabama in overtime back on Nov. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, hooking up its backers as a 5 ½-point underdog.

Thanks to three straight wins since that defeat, coupled with losses by previously-unbeaten teams like Stanford, Oklahoma St. and Boise St., Alabama (11-1 SU, 8-4 ATS) is back in the BCS Championship Game for the second time in three years.

As of Sunday afternoon, most books were listing the Crimson Tide as a 1 1/2-point favorite with a total of 40. A few offshores were all the way up to two in favor of ‘Bama.

Nick Saban’s team is coming off a 42-14 win at Auburn as a 21 ½-point road ‘chalk.’ Trent Richardson was the catalyst with 27 carries for 203 yards, while A.J. McCarron completed 18-of-23 throws for 184 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

LSU has taken care of its business from the start when it thumped Oregon 40-27 in the season opener at Cowboys Stadium. Even without starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who was suspended for the first four games, the Tigers cruised through a brutal September slate that included a trip to Starkville on a short week of preparation and a venture to Morgantown.

Les Miles’s bunch beat Mississippi St. 19-6 and demolished West Va., 47-21. The Tigers have wins over six teams that have already won bowl games. They played the nation’s toughest schedule, as its foes have a 78-44 combined record.

LSU has an amazing ground attack with four big-time running backs. The quartet of Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard have combined to rush for 2,316 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Hilliard, a true freshman who is the nephew of Dalton Hilliard, the former LSU and New Orleans Saints great, has emerged over the last few games. He had only two touches at ‘Bama but is expected to play a much larger role Monday night.

In LSU’s 42-10 win over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3, Hilliard scored three touchdowns in the second half alone. He rushed eight times for 72 yards and a pair of scores and also had an eight-yard TD catch from Jefferson, who has started every game since relieving Jarrett Lee in the second quarter at Alabama.

Alabama has its best defense since the vaunted unit that led it to the national title in 1992 with a blowout win over Miami at (guess where?!) the Superdome in New Orleans. The Tide ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (8.8 PPG) and yards allowed (191.2 per game). They limited LSU to three field goals over 60 minutes and change in Tuscaloosa.

Gamblers should anticipate a huge helping of Richardson from ‘Bama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, who is the new head coach at Colorado St. but will call plays Monday. Richardson was a finalist for the Heisman and finished the regular season with 1,583 yards and 20 TDs while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He also had three TD catches.

McCarron has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,400 yards with a 16/5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He connected on 16-of-28 attempts for 199 yards with an interception in the first meeting vs. LSU.

Kickoff on Monday night is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

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Look for 'big boy' football in BCS title game

January 8, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Les Miles squeezed out a smile, clenched his left hand nervously and extended his right hand toward Nick Saban. The coaches got in an awkward grasp, forced a bit of small talk, and then posed for the cameras behind the crystal trophy that only one of them can hoist toward the Superdome roof come Monday night.

This was the last of their pregame obligations - one final chance for Miles to deflect a query about whether top-ranked LSU is the favorite to make it to the BCS title NEXT YEAR, one more opportunity for Saban to show he's got a life beyond his stranglehold on the storied program at No. 2 Alabama (turns out he does, if watching the Weather Channel qualifies).

Now, let's get down to business.

LSU vs. Alabama, Part II. The BCS championship.

This time, it's for all the marbles.

Really.

The teams already met two months ago in Tuscaloosa, a so-called Game of the Century that was more of a Brawl in the Backyard, a brutal slugfest that sent both teams scurrying for the training room the next day and left fans around the country feeling a bit cheated by an old-fashioned defensive struggle in a college game now dominated by point-a-minute offenses.

Neither team made it to the end zone in that first meeting, even with the benefit of extra time. LSU won a battle of field goals, claiming a 9-6 overtime victory and stealing away the top spot in the rankings from the Crimson Tide.

Everyone expects more scoring in the rematch, but there's no way it's turning into one of those back-and-forth shootouts we've seen so many times this bowl season.

``I'd expect it to be big-boy football,'' Miles said Sunday during his time on podium.

LSU (13-0) has already put up a body of work that clearly establishes it as the nation's best team. In addition to that Nov. 5 win at Alabama, the Tigers have victories over two other major bowl champions, Rose Bowl winner Oregon and Orange Bowl champ West Virginia. In all, they've knocked off eight teams that were ranked in The Associated Press Top 25, with only three of those games in Baton Rouge.

``The only team I've told them not to schedule is the Green Bay Packers,'' Miles quipped.

Maybe it's only appropriate for the Tigers to find one more daunting challenge standing in the way of a championship season - a great team they've already beaten.

``When we take the field, we'll be an emotional, fired-up football team,'' Miles vowed.

Alabama (11-1) didn't even make the championship game of the Southeastern Conference, but the Crimson Tide managed to sneak back into the national title race when Oklahoma State lost late in the season. In the strangest of twists, Saban's team will be the one celebrating its second national title in three years with a mere split of the season series with LSU.

Perhaps sensing just how fortuitous Alabama was to get a do-over, Saban wants his players to seize the moment.

``I would like for them to focus on the opportunity, not the pressure part,'' he said, ``so that they really are zeroed into the mental practice and the things that when they go out there and play, they're going to be confident in doing their job the way they need to do it to have success.''

That sort of robotic talk is typical of Saban, who spits out championship teams with assembly line precision, devoid of any flair. While Miles' disjointed grammar and goofy antics make it difficult to take him seriously at times, there are no such issues with Saban. He's all business, mixed in with a healthy dose of fear and autocracy.

``He's not like that all the time. He does have a personality,'' junior Robert Lester said. ``But he's hard on us because he wants us to get the job done. On the field, he demands what he wants. By doing so, the guys go out there and try to do it perfect to please him. It works. You can tell, because we're playing in the national championship game again. When you come here, you've got to buy into the program. That's part of it. We've bought in and had success.''

Saban did break character a few times Sunday.

When someone's cell phone went off in the back of the room with a loud song, the coach interjected, ``Is that a little Al Green? Turn it up, man.'' He drew laughs when telling how he grilled anyone who wanted to go out on a date with his daughter. ``None of them ever really answered me,'' he said, managing a slight smile. ``They were so intimidated so I never got much good information.''

Saban even revealed the morning routine he has with his wife.

``We get up at 6:15 every day and watch the Weather Channel for about 30 minutes before we start our day,'' Saban said. ``I get most of my marching orders in that 30-minute segment of what we should do or how I should do it or why it's important to do it that way, what I need to talk to the team about. I get coached up very well in that 30-minute segment of the Weather Channel.''

He might want to see if there's a Kicking Channel.

Alabama likely would have won the first meeting with LSU if not for the dismal performance by its two kickers. Cade Foster botched three field-goal attempts, including a 52-yarder after the Tide went the wrong way with its overtime possession. Jeremy Shelley also missed.

Given these are two defenses that take it personally when someone gets close to the goal line, Foster and Shelley are likely to be called on again in the championship game. But the Alabama offense hopes to make it a little easier on them this time. Foster's other misses were from 44 and 50 yards. Shelley failed to convert on a 49-yarder, far beyond his normal range.

``We've got to get them closer. We've got to get them kicking extra points. We can't be going for three points every time,'' Alabama lineman William Vlachos said. ``Obviously, it's not the kickers' fault when we're throwing them out there for 50-yarders every time. That's on the offense, that's on the defense, that's on everyone else but the kickers. As a team, we're not putting the blame on them, that's for sure.''

No one doubts the Alabama defense, which wouldn't look that out of place in the NFL with 260-pound linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw. The Crimson Tide led the nation in every major category, allowing a minuscule 8.8 points a game.

LSU, with not one but two All-American cornerbacks in Tyrann ``Honey Badger'' Mathieu and Morris Claiborne, isn't far behind. The Tigers have allowed the second-fewest points (10.5) and are no lower than sixth in the other three major rankings.

While those who prefer high-scoring games might be flipping around the dial Monday night, these teams aren't apologizing to anyone. In fact, they give rave reviews to LSU-Alabama I.

``I thought it was beautiful,'' Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. ``That was grown men out there battling. It was the most physical game since I've been at Alabama. It was brutal - the pounding, all the big hits.''

That game also marked a turning point for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson. He began the senior year of his checkered college career with a four-game suspension, punished for his involvement in a bar fight, but took over when Jarrett Lee threw a pair of interceptions against the Tide. Jefferson guided the Tigers to their biggest victory and started the final four games.

Another win over the Tide, he said, ``will make my legacy at LSU that much sweeter.''

Miles veered away from a question about whether one more victory would stamp LSU as one of the best teams in college football history. Jefferson had no such qualms.

``If we do win this game, I think we will go down as the greatest team,'' he said.

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Title game brings closure to long season

January 8, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The moment was about as stilted as it could get, though Les Miles and Nick Saban certainly knew the routine. They posed stiffly for the photographers, smiles fixed on their faces and the BCS trophy between them, even though everyone in the room except the BCS bigwigs who crowded into the photo op knew they would both rather be somewhere - make that anywhere - else.

The title game between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama was little more than a day away, 32 hours as Miles kept reminding everyone, yet there was still work to be done. There always is for football coaches and, mercifully enough, the last public appearance before the game by the two coaching heavyweights was finally over.

Mercifully enough, soon the college football season will be, too.

It comes to an end in a dome just a short drive down Interstate 10 from Baton Rouge, making it almost a home game for the team almost everyone outside Alabama believes is the best in the country. It comes to an end in a yet another game between two SEC heavyweights, the third time in 14 months that LSU and Alabama have played each other.

That it may not end with a clear national champion isn't surprising because the system is deeply flawed. Always will be until a team like Oklahoma State or even Boise State has a chance to battle its way through a playoff to get into the title game.

The people who run the BCS will tell you otherwise, arguing that the cartel has done more to elevate the college game than Knute Rockne ever did while prowling the sidelines at Notre Dame. They claim interest in the postseason has never been higher, even while they match teams like West Virginia and Clemson and run a system that makes the BCS title game little more than a second SEC championship game.

Fans, though, seem to be catching on.

They're tired of a bloated bowl season, fed up with mismatches dictated not by records but by conference affiliation. They're voting against the BCS series the only way they know how - by staying home and watching something else on television.

Bowl attendance was down this season, and that's not the biggest story. The Rose Bowl had its lowest television ratings in history, Orange Bowl ratings dropped 37 percent from last year, and Sugar Bowl viewership was almost non-existent. Even the Fiesta Bowl - won by Oklahoma State over Stanford in an overtime thriller - was the third-least viewed of the past decade.

And to cap it all off we get a title game that feels so yesterday. Not only are LSU and Alabama in the same SEC division, a game between them went into overtime in November without either school scoring a touchdown. It's a little tough for fans to get excited about a rematch that requires a deep appreciation of defensive line play and the kicking game.

It's on Jan. 9 to boot, long after New Year's hangovers are forgotten, and - more importantly - after the NFL playoffs have already begun. The biggest show in college football wasn't even the biggest show in town over an extended weekend where it seemed every other person was wearing a Drew Brees jersey and the Superdome was rocking as the Saints beat Detroit to open the playoffs.

Maybe that's why Miles felt the need to hype the game just a bit before posing for photographers.

``I expect it to be big boy football,'' the LSU coach said. ``It will be a game representative of two quality football teams.''

That's a given, considering these are the two best teams in the best football conference there is. This will be the sixth time in a row a SEC team has won the BCS title game, leading some to joke that the only way an SEC team will lose the title game is to play another SEC team.

Not hard to see why. The SEC has $5 million a year coaches, and programs that bring in $100 million a year. It has football traditions that run deep into the fabric of society throughout the South, and it has its way whenever decisions are made in the BCS cartel.

It also has athletes that other conferences can only dream about, linebackers with speed who are the size of defensive ends on other teams.

``I feel like the players are a little bit more versatile and athletic,'' said Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who is one of those players. ``We don't find too many guys that weigh 260 pounds that can run a 4.6 or 4.5 in any other conference or guy that weighs 200 pounds that can bench press 500.''

Whether that translates into a good football game remains to be seen. Unlike last year, there's no Cam Newton, no LaMichael James to stir offensive excitement. The quarterbacks on both sides are suspect, and the fact both teams know each other so well could limit the offense even more.

In an era of spread offenses and teams scoring 62 points in a game, this figures to be a throwback to the hard nose defenses of earlier times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does tend to turn off the casual fan who tunes in to see touchdown celebrations.

Don't blame Alabama or LSU for that. They play a style, and it's main the reason they play so often in the title game.

Blame the BCS, though, for dragging the whole thing out so long that nothing about this championship game feels special.

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LSU-Alabama play for National Championship

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (11-1)
vs. LSU TIGERS (13-0)

BCS National Championship Game
Superdome - New Orleans, LA
Kickoff: Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Alabama -2, Total: 40.5

The nation’s top two teams, No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, slug it out once again, this time for the BCS Championship on Monday night in New Orleans. Both schools have won the title recently with LSU claiming the 2007 season title and Alabama taking home the hardware following the 2009 season.

Expect the cliché to hold true here that defense really does wins championships. Not special teams, or turnovers, or missed field goals like the last meeting, but straight defense. If so, Alabama will walk away as the national champs. The Tide held LSU to 239 total yards in their meeting on Nov. 5, and Alabama is allowing just 191 YPG on the season (LSU is giving up 252 YPG). Alabama leads the nation in scoring defense, run defense and pass defense despite a pedestrian 2.1 sacks per game and an offense that is good, but certainly not elite (433 YPG, 31st in nation). The Crimson Tide defense is on the field for 27:19 per game, and has still allowed a meager 3.4 yards per play. The difference on offense will be ‘Bama RB Trent Richardson, who gained 169 total yards on 28 touches versus LSU in November. This game will be tight and low-scoring again, but this time ALABAMA prevails.

This three-star FoxSheets coaching trend also backs the Crimson Tide:

Nick Saban is 18-5 ATS (78.3%, +12.5 Units) after gaining 6.25 or more yards/play in their previous game as the coach of ALABAMA. The average score was ALABAMA 36.8, OPPONENT 12.4 - (Rating = 3*).

The first meeting this year had a final score of 9-6 in overtime and this three-star FoxSheets trend points to the UNDER occurring again:

ALABAMA is 15-2 UNDER (88.2%, +12.8 Units) after scoring 42 points or more last game since 1992. The average score was ALABAMA 28.4, OPPONENT 12.0 - (Rating = 3*).

Since beating Alabama in November’s “Game of the Century,” LSU has been even better, outscoring its final four opponents (two of them ranked) 177 to 39. The Tigers are putting up 38.5 PPG (12th in nation) and allowing just 10.5 PPG (2nd in nation). They have won every game by 13+ points with the exception of the victory over the Tide. But despite the huge points, the Tigers rank 74th in the nation in total offense (375 YPG) including 105th in passing (160 YPG). QB Jordan Jefferson (8.24 YPA, 6 TD, 1 INT) will start on Monday, but Jarrett Lee (7.82 YPA, 14 TD, 3 INT) will also see time under center. Jefferson is a strong 26-of-40 (65%) for 322 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT in three career games against Alabama, while Lee has struggled mightily, going 24-for-58 (41%) for 316 yards (5.45 YPA), 1 TD and 7 INT against the Tide.

Since gaining a mere 148 yards on 41 carries (3.6 YPC) against Alabama, LSU has been running all over its opponents, averaging 284 YPG on a whopping 6.6 yards per carry. Sophomore RB Alfred Blue didn’t have any carries against the Tide, but has piled up a ridiculous 287 yards on just 21 attempts (13.7 YPC) in his past three games, leading the team in rushing yards each time. Michael Ford leads LSU with 755 rushing yards, while Spencer Ware and Kenny Hilliard are tied for the team lead with eight rushing touchdowns. Ford was the most effective back against Alabama this year, rushing for 72 yards on just 11 carries (6.5 YPC), while the rest of his team was held to 76 yards on 30 carries (2.5 YPC).

The Crimson Tide have allowed more than 14 points only once all year (to lowly Georgia Southern). Although Richardson was the lone offensive threat against the Tigers in the last meeting, has he rushed for just 144 yards (4.1 YPC) in three career games versus LSU. He currently ranks fourth in the nation in rushing (132 YPG) and fifth in scoring (23 TD). Speedy sophomore Eddie Lacy also has big-play ability, rushing for 631 yards and 7 TD on a hefty 7.5 YPC average. Since the team was held to 96 yards on 31 carries (3.1 YPC) against LSU, Alabama has rushed for 708 yards (236 YPG) on 5.5 yards per carry in the past three weeks, with 505 coming from Richardson and 147 from Lacy.

Sophomore QB A.J. McCarron has had a strong season (8.16 YPA, 16 TD, 5 INT) and made some nice throws against LSU, finishing the day 16-of-28 for 199 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT. He has put together two straight excellent performances, completing 32-of-42 passes (76%) for 374 yards, 6 TD and 1 INT in wins over Georgia Southern and Auburn. His top receiver has been senior Marquis Maze (56 rec, 627 yds), who had six catches for 61 yards in the first meeting this year. But Maze has just one receiving touchdown all season, and that came in the season-opening win over Kent State. Senior TE Brad Smelley leads Alabama with four receiving touchdowns, with three of those coming in the past two weeks along with 10 catches and 144 yards.

Both schools have done a great job of protecting the football this season. Alabama has turned it over just seven times since the season opener (5 TO vs. Kent State) while LSU has a mere eight giveaways in 13 games. The Tigers defense forces more turnovers though, with 30 takeaways this season, as compared to Alabama’s 18. LSU has two excellent sophomore pass-rushers in Sam Montgomery (nine sacks) and Barkevious Mingo (eight sacks), while ‘Bama senior LB Courtney Upshaw (8½ sacks, 17 TFL) is the only player on the team with at least four sacks. Upshaw and LB Dont’a Hightower (81 tackles, 9.5 TFL) were among Alabama’s six All-Americans. The Tigers boast two All-American cornerbacks in Morris Claiborne (6 INT) and Tyrann Mathieu, who has been the country’s most valuable defensive player. Mathieu has a team-high 70 tackles, six forced fumbles and four fumble returns, two for touchdowns. He has also scored punt return touchdowns in two straight games and ranks third in the nation with 16.2 yards per punt return. The Tide also have a great punt return man in Maze, who ranks 11th in the nation with a 12.4-yard average.

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NCAAF

Monday, January 9

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Alabama - 8:30 PM ET LSU + 2.5 500

Louisiana State - Over 41.5 500