If you wanted a different outcome in tonight’s rematch between Alabama and LSU from the 9-6, prematurely anointed “Game of the Century” back in November, you got your wish.
I think.
The No. 2 Tide kicked five field goals and completely stuffed No. 1 LSU in a 21-0 shutout, the first ever in a BCS bowl, to get even with the Tigers and win their second BCS championship game in three years. Alabama’s defense was stout, holding LSU to under 100 yards of offense all night. The Tigers didn’t even cross the 50-yard line until midway through the fourth quarter.
The defensive game plan put together by Nick Saban, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and the Tide’s defensive staff was perfect.
But another real difference tonight was, oddly enough, quarterback play. Alabama’s A.J. McCarron played smart football and didn’t put himself, or his team, in bad positions. He even made a few plays on his own too. The sophomore looked like a completely different player tonight than when he got his first shot at LSU two months ago.
LSU’s Jordan Jefferson was the opposite. You can fill in the blank to fit the way the senior played tonight.
Also, I don’t think I’m alone in wondering what, if anything, Jarrett Lee did to merit riding the bench for all 60 minutes tonight. Jefferson played like, well, bad Jordan Jefferson; Lee didn’t even get a shot.
Les Miles will undoubtedly get that question in his post game press conference.
We’ll have more on tonight’s game later.