BCS title game thread: Nick Saban will burn every hat in Louisiana if he has to

I think the game merits its own thread. I may be biased. That bowl thread is 40-something pages long, though.

The game is Monday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN 3D and ESPN3.com. There's something called a GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday night, but I lost interest when I found out it involved neither Danica Patrick nor Nikki Cappelli.

Anyway, let's just quickly review 11 key players on each team to validate this being its own thread.

From the No. 2-ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide, who are 11-1 ...

• Junior inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower: He's the heart of the nation's best defense and an imposing tackler.
• Senior safety Mark Barron: He doesn't have huge NFL upside, but he's as polished as any safety I've seen in college.
• Senior outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw: Everyone compares him to LaMarr Woodley, but he's nastier.
• Senior nose tackle Josh Chapman: He absolutely absorbs blockers and still makes plenty of plays.
• Junior cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick: He's great in zone and against the run, but senior DeQuan Menzie may be better in man.
• Junior running back Trent Richardson: There is no better running back in the nation, and he often lines up at receiver.
• Junior tackle Barrett Jones: Battered knees haven't kept him from being the best Tide lineman since Dwight Stephenson.
• Junior guard Chance Warmack: He is a vicious run and pass blocker who should be a first-round pick next year.
• Senior tight end Brad Smelley: He plays a hybrid H-back/fullback/tight end role to perfection.
• Sophomore quarterback AJ McCarron: He takes a lot of heat, but he's tremendously talented and may be great down the road.
• Junior long-snapper Carson Tinker: He's a second-year starter who was the center of a tragic, inspirational tale.

...
From the No. 1-ranked Louisiana State University Tigers, who are 13-0 and the Southeastern Conference champions ...

• Junior cornerback Morris Claiborne: He will likely be the top pick from this game in the 2012 NFL draft.
• Sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu: We have been assured that he do, in fact, care. And he makes big plays, too.
• Sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery: The Tigers have seven really good linemen; Montgomery is the best.
• Sophomore safety Eric Reid: He made the key play in the Nov. 5 game, and he's a top-flight NFL draft prospect for 2013.
• Junior defensive tackle Michael Brockers: He more consistently caused problems for Alabama than anyone else on Nov. 5.
• Senior guard Will Blackwell: He's considered the leader of an offensive line that does its job quietly and efficiently.
• Junior wide receiver Rueben Randle: He can be erratic, but he's the most talented receiver playing.
• Senior fullback James Stampley: He and sophomore J.C. Copeland are monster blockers with four carries between them.
• Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson: He played pretty well against Alabama on Nov. 5, and his running could be a key factor.
• Freshman punter Brad Wing: For my money, he's the best in the nation with his precision boots.

...
Roll Tide.

 

It's Dont'a Hightower.

 

9-3 LSU.

Combined number of yards: 405

Combined number of punts: 13

Combined number of turnovers: 5

 

I have a hunch, growing stronger by the day, that Alabama wins relatively easily, say 20-6 or so.

 

I just saw that Alabama is a 1 1/2 point fave, and the o/u is 40 1/2

First of all, I think LSU wins, and I don't think there is a way in the world it gets to 40 points.

 

In which case you will be wrong.

 

Thereby guaranteeing a split national title.

Utter chaos.

 

Exactly how does No. 2 beating No. 1 "guarantee" a split national title? I can't see the logic whereby No. 3 passes No. 2 after No. 2 beats No. 1.

 

Another sig bet on that one?

 

If Alabama wins.

In one poll, Alabama jumps to 1, LSU drops to 2.
In the other poll, LSU stays at 1, Alabama stays at 2.

Oklahoma State would never factor into it.

 

The number of 40 1/2?

Absolutely.