College Football Betting: LSU Looks To Finish What It Started Versus Tide

When the LSU Tigers finished the regular season a perfect 13-0, including 8-0 in the most competitive conference in college football, there was not one coach or player that didn’t understand they still had not face their toughest test of the year. That will come in this year’s Allstate BCS Championship Game, as the Tigers will look to beat the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide for the second time this season in the biggest NCAA football game of the year and take home a national title.

Allstate BCS Championship Game
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers
Monday January 9, 2012 – 8:30 PM ET
Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
College Football Betting Line: LSU Tigers – 1

The Tigers barely escaped their first meeting against Alabama, capitalizing on a handful of missed field goals to win the game by a field goal of their own in overtime for a 9-6 final. LSU head coach Les Miles understands this contest will be about taking advantage of opportunities once again, and he has to be hoping for a slight home field advantage with the game at the Superdome in Louisiana.

College Football Betting Preview: Alabama

The biggest order of the day for Alabama will once again be to establish its top-ranked defense against a Tigers’ offense that ranked 12th in the FBS in points scored, an even more impressive accomplishment considering they hit that mark in the SEC. The Tide held their own against LSU in their first meeting, but special teams errors and the inability to move the ball on offense cost them. Heisman trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner Trent Richardson will get a ton of carries once again, and although he was held to just 89 rushing yards in the first meeting, he caught fire at the end of the season and should be ready for the challenge as the leader for the sports betting underdog.

College Football Betting Preview: LSU

The Tigers will rely on cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne to hold their own on the outside while they stack the box against Richardson after that tandem became the first in history to both be named first-team All-American’s for the same team. Mathieu and Claiborne were a big reason why the LSU defense finished second in the nation to only Alabama, and they will need to provide another big effort to beat the Tide a second consecutive time. The running back tandem of Michael Ford and Spencer Ware each rushed for over 700 yards during the regular season, so look for both to get a ton of touches as Miles makes sure not to make too many gambles on offense.

College Football Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Both teams will want to play a field-position, possession-battle type of game that doesn’t include many risks, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if this game went below the total set by the pay head bookies once again. If it weren’t for so many crucial mistakes the Tide would have won the first meeting between these teams, something that isn’t lost on Miles and his players as they look to leave nothing to chance and complete the perfect season.

BSN Sports Free Pick: LSU Tigers - 1