Aside from the obvious reason of being able to play for the SEC Championship.

It's an extra week of practice, an extra week of game experience (big game experience at that), and a shorter layoff than Alabama will have.

I've heard people comment that Alabama will get an extra week of rest. There are 37 days between the SECCG and the BCSNCG. If you aren't well rested by then, those extra 7 days aren't going to help. I'd much rather have still been playing playing meaningful football more recently.

I don’t get that mind set either…trust me…about a decade and half ago the dream was to be able to go to the SEC championship. It isn’t like you win the west every year.

Just because this year may work out as a Bama / LSU rematch doesn’t mean we should be pumped about the opportunity to throw another title on the shelf…besides don’t be surprised if we end up playing another team in the BCS…maybe one that wears orange.

I agree. The SEC is the best conference, so being conference champion means a lot.

I think the implication is that LSU has to risk another game (loss) which could in theory knock LSU out of the NCG while Bama has no such jeopardy. Not that playing for the SEC championship is a penalty per se.

And it's one more week to rack up key injuries. Will everyone still have such a rosy outlook if Jefferson shatters his leg on the first play from scrimmage on Saturday?

That coin has two sides.

I would even argue that it's just as if not more legit than a national championship. You can make the case that the national championship is nothing more than complete hokus pokus. But still want to win the damn thing.

Well...the point I was trying to make is that not only are we playing for a championship, but I think it also gives us a competitive advantage.

SEC Champion, National Champion, riddle me this..... over the past 5 years and then this one... What's the difference?