Not many people are feeling tonight’s BCS National Championship game, but I think it has the makings of a classic. LSU is a talented veteran team led by a head coach who makes his decisions with his balls rather than his brain. OSU is looking like a throwback of their 2002 championship team. They have a talented young running back and an imposing defense led by the intelligent and calculating Jim Tressel. LSU thinks they are a team of destiny and OSU feels disrespected. OSU is out to prove last year was a fluke and LSU is looking forward to being crowned champion. All of the above will factor into making tonight a classic.
What to Watch for Early
The obvious, can OSU hang with LSU? Does all the SEC speed talk have merit or can OSU effectively move the ball and contain LSU. The most telling battle will be in the trenches. Watch to see how the OSU offensive line handles All American Glen Dorsey. Are they going to be able to drive him off the line of scrimmage? Are they going to need to double him on every passing down? Also watch their counterparts on the defensive line. Can they collapse and contain the pocket on Matt Flynn \ Ryan Perrilloux? Early on LSU will try to knock OSU out with big plays by getting their playmakers vertical and in space.
How will the long layover affect each team? Has a now healthy LSU turned back into team killing machine? Is OSU just one big bottle of pissed off rage and emotion waiting to explode?
Does playing in the Superdome really mean it’s a home-field advantage for LSU?
What to Watch for Late
How does each team adjust and handle adversity. Whoever has the better halftime coaching staff will be a big factor in who wins this game. Will Todd Boeckman be able to make a couple of big plays in the second half to spark his offense?
How does it End
The superior athleticism and big game experience of LSU will shine brightest. However, OSU will keep it close and it wouldn’t be surprising to me for them to be holding a narrow lead late. In the end LSU wins it 31-24.
1Ray on Jan 13, 2008 at 8:48 am:
Glad LSU won but it was more of a blowout than anything