This week's top games
Lots of 'D' in SEC: Alabama running back Eddie Lacy smashed into a host of LSU defenders during a Nov. 5 game that was dominated by defense. LSU won 9-6 in overtime.
Game of the Week: BCS Championship game
No. 1 Louisiana State vs. No. 2 Alabama
8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, New Orleans
TV // ESPN
FAVORITE // Alabama by 1
RECORDS // LSU 13-0 (9-0 in SEC); Alabama 11-1 (7-1 in SEC West)
LAST MEETING // LSU won 9-6 on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama leads series 45-25-5.
THE SKINNY // So we know that the Southeastern Conference is guaranteed to win another national championship, and we know that either Alabama or LSU will chalk up its second title in a remarkable six-year run in which SEC teams have cornered the crystal-trophy market. What we don't know is whether the Crimson Tide and Tigers can be entertaining this time.
The teams played one "game of the century" two months ago, with LSU winning a game that featured almost as many missed field-goal attempts (four, all by Alabama) than made (five). The teams combined for 534 yards that night - less than Houston, Baylor and Oklahoma State average in a game.
But if the SEC has taught us anything, it's that shiny offense is a regular-season thing. The conference's recent dominance is almost entirely predicated on defense. For every Tim Tebow and Mark Ingram and Cam Newton to spark an SEC offense, there are multiple defenders who control the trenches and shut off high-powered offenses such as Ohio State in 2006 and Oregon a year ago.
This time around, one SEC power built on defense goes head-to-head with another, so all bets are off. The site - New Orleans - would seem to favor LSU, which won its previous two titles (2003 and '07) at the Superdome. But it's not like Bama will have to travel far.
Fiesta Bowl
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State
8:30 p.m. Monday, Glendale, Ariz.
TV // ESPN
FAVORITE // Oklahoma State by 3 /2
RECORDS // Stanford 11-1; Oklahoma State 11-1
LAST MEETING // First meeting
THE SKINNY // The passing game takes center stage as Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck (3,170 yards passing, 35 touchdowns) faces 28-year-old Brandon Weedon (4,328 yards, 34 touchdowns) and his excellent receiver Justin Blackmon (113 catches, 1,336 yards). Except for a double-overtime slip at Iowa State, the Cowboys would be playing for a national title. Stanford had it going this season, too, until it ran into Oregon, another team with a high-powered offense.
Orange Bowl
No. 23 West Virginia vs. No. 14 Clemson
8 p.m. Wednesday, Miami
TV // ESPN
FAVORITE // Clemson by 3 1/2
RECORDS // West Virginia 9-3; Clemson 10-3
LAST MEETING // Clemson won 27-7 in the 1989 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Clemson leads series 1-0.
THE SKINNY // Clemson makes its first Orange Bowl appearance since 1982, when it beat Nebraska for its only national title. Clemson had designs on another before a 1-3 slide late in the season. But it rebounded to hammer Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and earn its first BCS bid. The Big East still gets one, too, and West Virginia emerged from an unsightly group of contenders by winning its final three games by a combined seven points.
Cotton Bowl
No. 21 Kansas State vs. No. 10 Arkansas
8 p.m. Friday, Arlington, Texas
TV // Fox (Channel 28)
FAVORITE // Arkansas by 7 1/2
RECORDS // Kansas State 10-2; Arkansas 10-2
LAST MEETING // Arkansas won 28-7 in 1967 in Little Rock, Ark. Kansas State leads series 3-1.
THE SKINNY // It would be hard to find a more attractive non-BCS game, in part because it's easy to find less attractive BCS games. Arkansas is the clear favorite - its two losses were to title-game participants LSU and Alabama. Quarterback Tyler Wilson (3,422 passing yards) leads the way. Kansas State is enjoying a rebirth under coach Bill Snyder, but it allowed 110 points in losses to Oklahoma State and Oklahoma after a 17-0 start.
Other games
BBVA Compass Bowl
Saturday Jan. 7
at Birmingham, Ala.
Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5)
TV: Noon, ESPN
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Sunday Jan. 8
at Mobile, Ala.
Arkansas State (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois (10-3)
TV: 9 p.m. ESPN
All-Star Games
East-West Shrine Classic
Jan. 21
at St. Petersburg, Fla.
TV: 4 p.m., NFL Network
Senior Bowl
Jan. 28
at Mobile, Ala.
North vs. South
TV: 4 p.m., NFL Network
