LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: BCS Championship Preview and Pick Against the Spread
Written by Matthew Regaw
Mon, 9 Jan 2012
Category sportsbook
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After nearly two months of waiting the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide will play in New Orleans for the BCS Championship. This game is a rematch from an earlier meeting when the Tigers squeaked by with a 9-6 win in overtime. That was the only loss on the season for the Tide.
Both teams have had long layoffs over 30 days or more, (Tide was off for 44 days), but both teams will be well prepared for what will be the biggest game of the college football season.
LSU vs. Alabama
The BCS Championship odds opened with the Tigers as one point favorites, but that number has changed sides and now the Tide are the favorites as they are laying 2 points leading up to the big game. Despite the line move, the public consensus reports show that the money is on the Bayou Bengals. This is interesting considering that the Tigers have yet to lose a game on the season and had a more impressive schedule.
This is technically a road game for the Tide, although they will have an excellent showing of fans for this game. The Tide travels well and it is evident by their success at the betting window. The Road team is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 meetings and the Crimson Tide are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings in Louisiana.
The Crimson Tide is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games and 6-2 ATS when playing a team with a winning record. Giving Nick Saban over a month to prepare for a team is going to spell trouble for LSU. Although LSU won the first meeting, Tide running back Trent Richardson still tore up the defense amassing a bevy of yards in the outing. Richardson comes into this game on a roll putting up over 500 yards in his last three outings. He will be the player to watch in this game.
On defense the edge goes to Alabama. The Tide killer D is ranked first in the country at 191.3 yards per game, ahead of second-place LSU at 252.1. While the Tigers have a formidable defense, the Tide rules the roost and will put pressure on Jordan Jefferson.
Jefferson is more of a running quarterback and the Tide defense will force him to throw and that will spell trouble for LSU. That will open up the Tigers for mistakes and that will make all the difference in a big game like this one.
The Tide and the Tigers go at it again like two champion prize fighters, but when the fight is over the Alabama Tide will be the Champions of the college football world.
BCS Championship Pick Against the Spread: Alabama Crimson Tide +2