LSU-Alabama Part Deux

Added on Dec 05, 2011 by Scott in

NCAAF

Like or or not, SEC powers LSU and Alabama will play for the BCS National Championship in January. It will be a rematch of the 9-6 field goal bonanza on November 5th, which was prematurely billed as the Game of the Century. Maybe the second go-around will live up to the billing. Maybe one or both teams will find a way to score a touchdown. Maybe a well played dramatic game will quiet the anti-BCS sentiment. Seems unlikely, but you never know.

Considering that LSU and Alabama have been ranked in the Top 3 of the BCS standings all season, their paring for the title game comes as no surprise. However, that hasn’t stopped the cries of dissent from being voiced, the loudest of which hail from Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The No. 3 Cowboys pummeled rival Oklahoma 44-10 to win the Big 12 conference on Saturday, but their resume was deemed unworthy to face the undefeated Tigers. A prolific offense versus a dominant defense would’ve been intriguing to watch, if not altogether competitive.

LSU stymied three top 20 offenses in Oregon, West Virginia and Arkansas, while Oklahoma State eclipsed 50 points six times and never scored less than 31 points. The contrast in styles looks great on paper, but it hardly guarantees a game to remember.

Working against the Cowboys was their overtime loss to unranked Iowa State on November 18th, which ultimately sealed their fate. If they had won that game then went on to defeat Oklahoma, it’s highly unlikely they would’ve dropped below the Crimson Tide in the BCS standings. After all, unbeaten Big 12 champs have competed in three of the previous six BCS title tilts.

Would Oklahoma have been snubbed if they were in Oklahoma State’s position? It’s a fair question considering the Sooners have twice played for the championship as one-loss Big 12 champions. It could be that the depleted Big 12, which has watched Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M and Missouri defect, was penalized for not being as strong.

It’s hard to argue with the SEC’s overall strength. Four teams finished in the Top 10 of the final BCS and AP standings, and eight of its twelve members were ranked in the Top 25 during the season. In addition, the last five (soon to be six) BCS champions all call the SEC home.

Complaining about a LSU-Alabama rematch is fine, but insinuating it’s an undeserving national championship is foolish.