Stakes considerably higher in LSU-Alabama rematch

NEW ORLEANS -- Les Miles squeezed out a smile, clenched his left hand nervously and extended his right hand toward Nick Saban. The coaches got in an awkward grasp, forced a bit of small talk, then posed for the cameras behind the crystal trophy that only one of them can hoist toward the Superdome roof tonight.

This was the last of their pregame obligations -- one final chance for Miles to deflect a query about whether top-ranked Louisiana State is the favorite to reach the BCS title game next season, one more chance for Saban to prove he's got a life beyond his stranglehold on the storied program at No. 2 Alabama.

Now, let's get down to business.

LSU vs. Alabama, Part II. The BCS championship.

This time, it's for all the marbles.

Really.

The teams already met two months ago in Tuscaloosa, a so-called Game of the Century that was more of a Brawl in the Backyard, a slugfest that sent both teams scurrying for the training room the next day and left fans around the country feeling a bit cheated by an old-fashioned defensive struggle in a college game now dominated by point-a-minute offenses.

Neither team got into the end zone in that first meeting, even with the benefit of extra time. LSU won a battle of field goals, claiming a 9-6 overtime victory and stealing away the top spot in the rankings from the Crimson Tide.

Everyone expects more scoring in the rematch, but there's no way it will turn into one of those back-and-forth shootouts we saw so often this bowl season.

"I'd expect it to be big-boy football," Miles said during his time on podium.

LSU (13-0) has already put up a body of work that clearly establishes it as the nation's best team. In addition to that Nov. 5 win at Alabama, the Tigers have victories over two other major bowl champions, Rose Bowl winner Oregon and Orange Bowl champ West Virginia. In all, they've beaten eight teams that were ranked in The Associated Press Top 25, with only three of those games in Baton Rouge.

"The only team I've told them not to schedule is the Green Bay Packers," Miles quipped.

Maybe it's only appropriate for the Tigers to find one more daunting challenge standing in the way of a championship -- a great team they've already beaten.

"When we take the field, we'll be an emotional, fired-up football team," Miles vowed.

Alabama (11-1) didn't even make the championship game of the Southeastern Conference, but the Crimson Tide managed to sneak back into the national title race when Oklahoma State lost late in the season. In the strangest of twists, Saban's team would be the one celebrating its second national title in three years with a mere split of the season series with LSU.

Perhaps sensing just how fortuitous Alabama was to get a do-over, Saban wants his players to seize the moment.

"I would like for them to focus on the opportunity, not the pressure part," he said, "so that they really are zeroed into the mental practice and the things that when they go out there and play, they're going to be confident in doing their job the way they need to do it to have success."

That sort of robotic talk is typical of Saban, who spits out championship teams with assembly-line precision, devoid of flair. While Miles' disjointed grammar and goofy antics make it difficult to take him seriously at times, there are no such issues with Saban. He's all business, mixed in with a healthy dose of fear and autocracy.

"He's not like that all the time. He does have a personality," junior Robert Lester said. "But he's hard on us because he wants us to get the job done. On the field, he demands what he wants. By doing so, the guys go out there and try to do it perfect to please him. It works. You can tell, because we're playing in the national championship game again."

Alabama likely would've won the first meeting with LSU if not for the dismal performance by its two kickers. Cade Foster botched three field-goal attempts, including a 52-yarder after the Tide went the wrong way with its overtime possession. Jeremy Shelley also missed.

Given these are two defenses that take it personally when someone gets close to the goal line, Foster and Shelley are likely to be called on again tonight. But the Alabama offense hopes to make it a little easier on them this time. Foster's other misses were from 44 and 50 yards. Shelley failed to convert on a 49-yarder, far beyond his normal range.

"We've got to get them closer. We've got to get them kicking extra points. We can't be going for three points every time," Alabama lineman William Vlachos said. "Obviously, it's not the kickers' fault when we're throwing them out there for 50-yarders every time. That's on the offense, that's on the defense, that's on everyone else but the kickers. As a team, we're not putting the blame on them, that's for sure."

No one doubts the Alabama defense, which wouldn't look that out of place in the NFL with 260-pound linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw. The Crimson Tide led the nation in every major category, allowing a minuscule 8.8 points a game.

LSU, with not one but two All-American cornerbacks in Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and Morris Claiborne, isn't far behind. The Tigers have allowed the second-fewest points (10.5) and are no lower than sixth in the other three major rankings.