As long as we contain Richardson (we will), we win handedly. Since the original "Game of the Century" Our offense has gotten much better since that game. We have Jefferson as the established QB now, and while he doesn't pass as well as Lee, our offense is much more effective with him in the game. Combine that with getting a big improvement at OL with Lonergan back healthy (who was injured in the first game), Hilliard coming out of nowhere, and OBJ getting extra browl prep time (he is a true freshman and basically just got another Spring Training)... Our defense has also gotten much better since that game. You might be thinking, "how's that possible?" I will tell you. The #1 reason is MORE Kevin Minter and LESS Karnell Hatcher. How did Richardson get all those receiving yards against us? Hatcher. With Minter at MLB, forget about it... Plus, we had Mingo starting at DE against Bama since Ken Adams was injured. We all know Mingo isn't built to play run defense against a big OL like Bama, but Adams is - AND HE'S BACK. One other factor - Honey Badger was in his mid-season slump, but NO LONGER. And just to put a cherry on top, Special Teams - the thing that won us the last game - is also even better. Who was our punt returner in the last matchup? OBJ, an okay punt returner. Who is our punt returner on January 9th going to be? The Honey Badger, with 2 TD's in his past few punt returns. Here's how the game is gonna go: First off, I want you to remember every bowl game that Jordan Jefferson has played in. Do you remember how he played? I will tell you. He was always EXCELLENT, fooling us into believing he had turned the corner. He's a Sr now, so we don't have to delude ourselves anymore, but JJ9 plays his best in bowl games. LSU will test out the option early to see what kind of success we have. But Bama will be expecting it, so it won't be as successful as last time. It won't matter. Bama will be so focused on the option that we'll have better success between the tackles. A draw play here, a JJ9 scramble there, and Bama will have to start drawing their LB's in... That's when we go back to the option. Bama will focus more guys on the run, but still try to double Randle again, BIG MISTAKE. Shep, OBJ, and DeAngelo Peterson make Bama pay. LSU will not have a single turnover, but they will force 2 or 3 from Bama. Bama won't risk punting to Honey Badger, until they start feeling they have to, so Matheiu makes them pay in the 3rd quarter with a 35 yard return, the punter saving a TD. Bama's offense will find themselves running into a brick wall, and will resort to trick plays and gimmicky play calls to try and get yards. This will work at points, and ends up giving them some yardage plus a Touchdown. In the end, it won't be enough. These Tigers won't be denied. LSU 27, Bama 14.
Don't forget this fact. Bama goes with a 3-4 and along with that they prefer to have large tackles, which they do, and large LB's, which they do. If LSU will run some pace type offense early and really get to the edges, which I think is to our advantage any way, and make those big boys run east to west they will tire out. I really felt like Bama was really getting tired last half of the 4th qtr in the first game and it really showed in OT. Those 340 lb interior lineman and 260 lb linebackers are not built for tempo and running side to side play after play. I think it has not been mentioned enough this season about LSU's conditioning, but playing Oregon the first game was a Godsend for our team. Our team is the best conditioned team I have seen in any conference this year. We just don't get tired. I think that is a HUGE advantage for LSU going into this one.
Being as deep as us helps too..very right conditioning looks better than ever!!another great analysis!
Excellent point! Bama will have a plan for stopping the option, but when they get tired the plan won't matter. You'll see LSU exploit the option more later in the game and Bama being tired is going to help make it extra effective. The 4th quarter is where the game is going to be won, and I definitely think our depth gives us the advantage there!
You can bet that Saban will attempt adjustments - all coaches do. However, it won't matter. We're more determined (despite the "revenge" factor), deeper, and faster. We'll exploit them in the 4th quarter.
