BCS Championship Game: LSU vs. Ohio State

Teams: LSU vs. Ohio State
Date: Jan. 7, 2008 at 8 p.m. ET
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Analysis
The 2007-2008 college football season has been anything but ordinary and going into the final weekend of action, it appeared LSU had no shot of making the title game. However, a few upsets later and a SEC Championship victory over Tennessee propelled the Tigers into the title game against Ohio State. The Tigers will be looking for their second title in five seasons, while the Buckeyes would like to avenge last year’s 41-14 championship loss to Florida.

Despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to graduation, the Buckeye offense hasn’t missed a beat with Todd Boeckman under center. Boeckman has been efficient, provided steady leadership at the position, while distributing the ball to playmaking receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. In a game where the game could be won in the trenches, the edge would go to the LSU defensive front, but the Buckeyes have to establish the run with Chris Wells. Wells may not find too many running lanes against one of the best run defenses in the NCAA, but he needs to be a factor in this game.

Tigers quarterback Matt Flynn missed the SEC Championship with a shoulder injury, but he should be able to suit up against the Buckeyes. Flynn and backup Ryan Perrilloux present an interesting test for the Buckeyes, who struggled to stop the mobility of Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. Look for the Tigers to spread out the Buckeye defense and attack the corners with the speed of receiver Early Doucet and running back Jacob Hester.

The Buckeyes have something to prove after last year’s loss to Florida, but they have to find a way to slow down the attacking Tiger defense and get Wells going on the ground. Turnovers could be critical, especially since the Tigers have forced 33 on the season. If Boeckman struggles or the Buckeyes get behind, the Tiger defense will continue to attack and the Buckeyes will head back to Columbus without a title.

Breakdown: LSU
Campus Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Distance to New Orleans: 81 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 19–18–1
2007 Season: 11–2, 6–2 SEC

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 12 (219)
Pass Offense: 53 (229)
Scoring Offense: 12 (39)
Rush Defense: 14 (103)
Pass Defense: 9 (181)
Scoring Defense: 20 (20)
Turnover Margin: 5 (1.38)

Additional Notes:
LSU is riding a two-game winning streak in bowl games coming into the BCS Championship … Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has battled injuries throughout the year, but should be close to 100 percent … The Tigers have won 11 games for three consecutive seasons and beat a school-record six top 20 teams in 2007 … The Tigers lost two games in triple overtime by a combined eight points.

Breakdown: Ohio State
Campus Location: Columbus, Ohio
Distance to New Orleans: 910 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 18–20
2007 Season: 11–1, 7–1 Big Ten

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 20 (201)
Pass Offense: 87 (196)
Scoring Offense: 36 (32)
Rush Defense: 3 (77)
Pass Defense: 1 (148)
Scoring Defense: 1 (11)
Turnover Margin: T-63 (-0.08)

Additional Notes:
The 2008 BCS Championship Game will mark the third title game Ohio State has played in the last six years … The Buckeyes have won 30 of their last 32 games … The Buckeyes have been to four BCS games in the last five years … Linebacker James Laurinaitis was named as the 2007 Big Ten defensive player of the year … The Buckeyes are tied for third in the NCAA in sacks per game with just under four per game.

Prediction: LSU by 7

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