BCS National Championship Game

Who will the BCS National Championship Game?

The pinnacle of college football the BCS Championship Game. All the hype and talk comes down to one game for the top dog this year, Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. LSU (13-0, 8-0 SEC). This is the second time these 2 teams will matchup this year, with the earlier meeting ending up with an LSU victory. That meeting providing the Crimson Tide's only loss this year as well. The first round was a fantastic game, and the 2nd matchup should be great as well. If LSU wins one could say the BCS worked this year, however if Alablama comes out on top you will have quite a bit of talk as the National Champion will have one loss, along with many other teams to finish they year.

The previous game was close and a hard fought battle, with the Tigers pulling out a victory in overtime by 3 points. Defense was dominant the whole game for both sides and it had been a low scoring affair. Now it is time to see if those three points that made LSU the number one team in the nation, was luck or superior play. Which offense can over come the impenetrable defenses that both LSU and Alabama have is one of the main questions that will be answered. Each team possesses equally good rushing attacks and can play ball control/field position. The first game the Tigers and Tide have had issues gaining ground against each other's defenses in the first half. When you compare the stats or the teams on paper each of them have the resume for national champion.

The game is a bit a different this year as a rematch instead of 2 teams that haven't played. The Tigers and Tide know each other being from the same conference. These teams' systems and schemes aren't a secret. Also, Alabama had a chance to sit back and study while they watched LSU play Georgia in the SEC championship, which should help their game plan. Because of this, something new and successfull might be needed for one of the teams to punch ahead in this game. I'm not saying they are going to depart from their core strategies but one or two big plays could greatly affect the outcome of this game.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and there is no love loss between these two teams. The game is being played in New Orleans, LSU isn't just listed as the home team, they are playing in their own back yard. A New Orleans home game might give LSU a boost. LSU is notorious for winning home games at night.

However Alabama is hungry and has a chip on their shoulder for a second national championship in recent years. They aren't the only one loss team in the country who could be #2 and this game. They want to step up and demonstrate how powerfull they are and avenge their only loss this year.

Both LSU and Alabama have top ranked defenses, dismantled all of their opponents, are ground teams and have been grinding out yards against a tough SEC conference, including each other. Grudge match is definitely one way to describe this game and it should be a dandy.

The X factor may decide this game, if a key injury or two occurs, if a new scheme or play allows one of the running games to be dominant, or if one of the QB's can have a stellar performance and stretch the field with the long ball so the running game has room to breath, that will be difference. If their is one game to know your player matchups this is it.

It really is anyone's game for the national championship. This is probably the closest game for the BCS championship in years. It will be a good defensive game that will be exciting to watch. Which ever team is able to break through the other team's defense will be the team that will take home the BCS championship

BCS National Championship Game Overview

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was created in 1998 at the end of the college football season with the intention of determining a national champion in Division 1 of college football. Prior to it's creation, the national champion had largely been determined by polls conducted by various organizations of media and coaches, more often than not leading to controversy and dispute. The new system has lessened the dispute somewhat, but discussion about the method of choosing the final two participants persist, and no doubt will continue to be a source of controversy as long as the decisions are made "off" the playing field rather than "on."

As the system currently stands, the final participants are the two highest ranked teams determined by combining the results of the USA Today Coaches' Poll, a panel of media, former coaches and players (Harris Interactive Poll), and the averages of six other national computer rankings. The computer rankings compare several factors, including strength of schedule, common opponents and late-season performance. Critics of the system argue that these are subjective criteria and not a valid method to determine a "true" champion.

Many critics suggest a larger championship tournament, consisting of eight to sixteen teams to be adopted, allowing the champion to be determined by competition instead of voters. The other three NCAA college divisions, the FCS (Football Championship Series), Division II and III use the suggested "tournament" format. Supporters of the BCS format argue that the expense involved with adding an extra game would be prohibitive and would disrupt the student-athletes' academic curriculum.

Controversy over the selection of championship game participants has not been eliminated by the system. In 2001, the University of Oregon was ranked second in the polls but the BCS chose Nebraska for the finals, despite Nebraska losing it's final regular season game. 2004 saw three undefeated teams; Auburn, Boise State and Utah not being placed in the finals, and in 2008, Utah once again finished undefeated but was bypassed for the championship game, bringing about accusations that the BCS selection committee favored bigger "name" schools that would supply a larger, more lucrative fan base and attract more television viewers, charges the committee denied.

The location of the championship game originally was rotated among the four "major" bowl games, (Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl) but was amended at the start of the 2006 season to be held a week after New Year's Day as a separate event, although still played at one of the four "host" bowls. The 2011 BCS Championship game is scheduled for the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on January 10, 2011.

The winner of the game is awarded the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Trophy as well as the National Football Foundation's MacArthur Trophy. The champions are also traditionally invited to the White House to be congratulated by the President.

Since the initial BCS Championship in 1998, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has been the dominant participating league, capturing six of the thirteen titles. Florida and Louisiana State of the SEC have each won two championships; Tennessee, Alabama the other two. The SEC has never lost a BCS Championship Game that one of it's member schools have participated in. The Big 12 Conference is the only other conference with more than one championship, winning twice, (Oklahoma, Texas).

We have all your BCS betting needs covered at Allpro. We have BCS odds for the Bowl Championship Series betting and our BCS lines will include all types of wagering options giving you a chance to place wagers on almost all aspects of the game.