A repeat in the rematch?
Friday, January 06, 2012
Monday, Jan. 9
New Orleans
BCS Championship Game: LSU (13-0/8-0 SEC) vs Alabama (11-1/7-1 SEC)
Following LSU’s 9-6 overtime conquest on Nov. 5, many thought the SEC powers would meet again a little more than two months later. Sure enough, the rematch is on and it will appropriately be played in SEC country. The folks in New Orleans will get a look at the top two defenses in the country, so it might be another field-goal affair. Here are some of the eye-opening team stats with national ranking in paren.
LSU
Scoring Defense: 10.5 points (2)
Total Defense: 252 yards (2)
Run Defense: 85 yards (3)
Pass Defense: 167 yards (8)
Alabama
Scoring Defense: 8.8 points (1)
Total Defense: 191 yards (1)
Run Defense: 75 yards (1)
Pass Defense: 116 yards (1)
Perhaps the most remarkable stat is that the opposition has penetrated Alabama’s red zone only 17 times in 12 games. On the rare occasion it happens, opposing offenses have come with points only 10 times, six on TDs.
It might seem surprising that neither team has a player in the top 100 in total tackles. Then again, the wealth is spread far and wide with depth is a strong suit – and an element that might ultimately be a factor.
Tide linebacker Dont’a Hightower has a team-high 79 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. Another linebacker, Courtney Upshall, is among the nation’s leaders with 17 tackles for loss and the leads the unit with 8.5 sacks. Alabama is No. 1 in the land in pass efficiency defense allowing opposing QBs to complete 48.2 percent of their passes with a scant 6 touchdowns. Alabama’s defense has phenomenal numbers in virtually all categories except creating turnovers, which they are tied for 89th nationally with 18. Corner DeMarcus Milliner has three of the team’s 12 interceptions.
Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu is a good place to start when it comes to the LSU defense. The Tigers lead the nation in turnover margin (1.7) and the corner is a major reason why. He is tied for fourth nationally with six forced fumbles, leads the country with five fumble recoveries, has a team-high 53 solo tackles and a pair of interceptions. Morris Claiborne, who joined Mathieu as a First-Team All-American at CB, is tied for ninth with six interceptions. In other words, there’s no escape. Up front, ends Sam Montgomery (9) and Berkevious Mingo (8) have combined for 17 of the squad’s 37 sacks. The latter also has 13.5 tackles for loss. The Tigers are third nationally in pass efficiency defense and, led by Claiborne, have picked off 18 passes.
Offense
Here’s a look at how the teams stack up offensively with national rankings in paren. Scoring includes points by the defense and special teams.
LSU
Scoring: 38.4 (12)
Total Offense: 375 yards (74)
Rushing: 215 yards (17)
Passing: 160 yards (105)
Alabama
Scoring: 36.0 (16)
Total Offense: 433 yards (30)
Rushing: 220 yards (15)
Passing: 213 yards (71)
While the Tigers rank 105th in passing yards per game, they are 18th in pass efficiency. There is something to be said for not beating yourself. Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee have combined to throw four interceptions in 250 attempts. The INT total is tied for the lowest in the country with Temple, Army and Wisconsin. Only the Badgers had more pass attempts. Jefferson, who threw for 684 yards with 6 TDs and one pick in 83 attempts, took every snap in the regular-season finale and SEC title game, so he is expected to start. He was one of five Tigers to rush for more than 300 yards. Michael Ford’s 755 yards (7 TDs) leads the way with Spencer Ware rushing for 700 and 8 TDs. Keep an eye on Kenny Hilliard, who came on strong the last two games with 174 yards and 3 TDs. Rueben Randle emerged as a big-play receiver this season with an average of 18.1 yards on 50 receptions, eight of which have resulted in touchdowns. Freshman Odell Beckham (36) is the only other Tiger with and many as 20 catches.
Heisman finalist and Doak Walker Award winner Trent Richardson led the Alabama offense by rushing for 1,583 yards and 20 TDs. His average of 132 rushing yards per game is fourth nationally. Richardson had 89 yards on 23 carries the first time around against an LSU. His backup, Eddie Lacy, had 631 yards at an average of 7.5 per carry with 7 TDs. Quarterback A.J. McCarron does not receive much notoriety, but he is 20th nationally in pass efficiency. The sophomore has completed exactly two-thirds of his passes for 2,400 yards. Sure he’s operating in a different offense, but it’s worth noting that McCarron’s average of 12.2 yards per completion is better than that of Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore and Brandon Weeden, among others. McCarron has 16 TD passes and only 5 picks. His leading target is Marquis Maze, who has 56 receptions for 627 yards. Three other players have at least 20 receptions
Special teams will play a role, for sure. Mathieu is averaging 16.1 yards per punt return, which is third nationally, and he has taken two back all the way. Claiborne is averaging 26.0 yards per kick return and Brad Wing is a freshman All-American punter averaging 44.1 per boot. Kicker Drew Alleman, who made all three of his field goal attempts in the first meeting, is 16-of-18 on the season. For Alabama, Maze is 11th nationally with an average of at 12.4 yards per punt return and Jeremy Shelley has made 16-of-20 field goals. Cade Foster, who trots out for longer attempts, was just 2-for-9 and missed a 52-yarder on the Tide’s OT possession in the first game.
Pick: LSU 16-13 OT
Monday, Jan. 9
New Orleans
BCS Championship Game: LSU (13-0/8-0 SEC) vs Alabama (11-1/7-1 SEC)
Following LSU’s 9-6 overtime conquest on Nov. 5, many thought the SEC powers would meet again a little more than two months later. Sure enough, the rematch is on and it will appropriately be played in SEC country. The folks in New Orleans will get a look at the top two defenses in the country, so it might be another field-goal affair. Here are some of the eye-opening team stats with national ranking in paren.
LSU
Scoring Defense: 10.5 points (2)
Total Defense: 252 yards (2)
Run Defense: 85 yards (3)
Pass Defense: 167 yards (8)
Alabama
Scoring Defense: 8.8 points (1)
Total Defense: 191 yards (1)
Run Defense: 75 yards (1)
Pass Defense: 116 yards (1)
Perhaps the most remarkable stat is that the opposition has penetrated Alabama’s red zone only 17 times in 12 games. On the rare occasion it happens, opposing offenses have come with points only 10 times, six on TDs.
It might seem surprising that neither team has a player in the top 100 in total tackles. Then again, the wealth is spread far and wide with depth is a strong suit – and an element that might ultimately be a factor.
Tide linebacker Dont’a Hightower has a team-high 79 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. Another linebacker, Courtney Upshall, is among the nation’s leaders with 17 tackles for loss and the leads the unit with 8.5 sacks. Alabama is No. 1 in the land in pass efficiency defense allowing opposing QBs to complete 48.2 percent of their passes with a scant 6 touchdowns. Alabama’s defense has phenomenal numbers in virtually all categories except creating turnovers, which they are tied for 89th nationally with 18. Corner DeMarcus Milliner has three of the team’s 12 interceptions.
Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu is a good place to start when it comes to the LSU defense. The Tigers lead the nation in turnover margin (1.7) and the corner is a major reason why. He is tied for fourth nationally with six forced fumbles, leads the country with five fumble recoveries, has a team-high 53 solo tackles and a pair of interceptions. Morris Claiborne, who joined Mathieu as a First-Team All-American at CB, is tied for ninth with six interceptions. In other words, there’s no escape. Up front, ends Sam Montgomery (9) and Berkevious Mingo (8) have combined for 17 of the squad’s 37 sacks. The latter also has 13.5 tackles for loss. The Tigers are third nationally in pass efficiency defense and, led by Claiborne, have picked off 18 passes.
Offense
Here’s a look at how the teams stack up offensively with national rankings in paren. Scoring includes points by the defense and special teams.
LSU
Scoring: 38.4 (12)
Total Offense: 375 yards (74)
Rushing: 215 yards (17)
Passing: 160 yards (105)
Alabama
Scoring: 36.0 (16)
Total Offense: 433 yards (30)
Rushing: 220 yards (15)
Passing: 213 yards (71)
While the Tigers rank 105th in passing yards per game, they are 18th in pass efficiency. There is something to be said for not beating yourself. Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee have combined to throw four interceptions in 250 attempts. The INT total is tied for the lowest in the country with Temple, Army and Wisconsin. Only the Badgers had more pass attempts. Jefferson, who threw for 684 yards with 6 TDs and one pick in 83 attempts, took every snap in the regular-season finale and SEC title game, so he is expected to start. He was one of five Tigers to rush for more than 300 yards. Michael Ford’s 755 yards (7 TDs) leads the way with Spencer Ware rushing for 700 and 8 TDs. Keep an eye on Kenny Hilliard, who came on strong the last two games with 174 yards and 3 TDs. Rueben Randle emerged as a big-play receiver this season with an average of 18.1 yards on 50 receptions, eight of which have resulted in touchdowns. Freshman Odell Beckham (36) is the only other Tiger with and many as 20 catches.
Heisman finalist and Doak Walker Award winner Trent Richardson led the Alabama offense by rushing for 1,583 yards and 20 TDs. His average of 132 rushing yards per game is fourth nationally. Richardson had 89 yards on 23 carries the first time around against an LSU. His backup, Eddie Lacy, had 631 yards at an average of 7.5 per carry with 7 TDs. Quarterback A.J. McCarron does not receive much notoriety, but he is 20th nationally in pass efficiency. The sophomore has completed exactly two-thirds of his passes for 2,400 yards. Sure he’s operating in a different offense, but it’s worth noting that McCarron’s average of 12.2 yards per completion is better than that of Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore and Brandon Weeden, among others. McCarron has 16 TD passes and only 5 picks. His leading target is Marquis Maze, who has 56 receptions for 627 yards. Three other players have at least 20 receptions
Special teams will play a role, for sure. Mathieu is averaging 16.1 yards per punt return, which is third nationally, and he has taken two back all the way. Claiborne is averaging 26.0 yards per kick return and Brad Wing is a freshman All-American punter averaging 44.1 per boot. Kicker Drew Alleman, who made all three of his field goal attempts in the first meeting, is 16-of-18 on the season. For Alabama, Maze is 11th nationally with an average of at 12.4 yards per punt return and Jeremy Shelley has made 16-of-20 field goals. Cade Foster, who trots out for longer attempts, was just 2-for-9 and missed a 52-yarder on the Tide’s OT possession in the first game.
Pick: LSU 16-13 OT
