By manhandling Auburn 42-14 in the Iron Bowl, Alabama stated its case why it deserves to play No. 1 LSU in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9.
The Crimson Tide finish the season at a stellar 11-1. Alabama's Trent Richardson, who had a career-high 203 yards rushing, deserves to be this year's Heisman award winner and deserves to play for the national championship.
If Alabama lost the Iron Bowl to Auburn, then they surely wouldn't deserve to play LSU again, but that didn't happen. It wasn't even a close game. It was a rout. It was a statement making victory for Alabama. The statement being that this team deserves a wholehearted rematch against LSU.
Alabama's only hiccup this season was its devastating 9-6 OT loss against LSU earlier this month. For my money, that was the most exciting college football game this season and I'm praying that the powers that be at the BCS realize that Alabama deserves a shot to be national champions.
The other teams in the BCS rankings don't hold a candle to Alabama, not even Stanford that has Heisman hopeful Andrew Luck as its quarterback. Arkansas had a shot at competing against LSU in the BCS championship, but lost its final game of the season against LSU on "Black Friday."
In my opinion, Virginia Tech doesn't deserve to play LSU for the national title simply because the ACC isn't the SEC. If the Hokies were in the SEC, it would be lucky to be a .500 team, let alone nationally ranked. I don't care what people think, the ACC to me isn't the caliber of college football that the SEC is and never will be.
Oklahoma State is a different story. If the Cowboys hadn't lost to Iowa State, then sure, they'd deserve to play LSU, but they didn't. Stanford's had a great season, but the Cardinal got its wings clipped against Oregon and blew its shot at facing undefeated LSU.
I am definitely no expert at determining what the BCS will decide on Dec. 4. But I do know this: the last ACC team to win a national championship was Miami (FL) in 2001. Before then, Florida State in 1999. The SEC has been the dominant conference winning five consecutive national championships since (Texas) 2005.
That should definitely stand for something when considering Alabama as a worthy opponent in the BCS title game.
Alabama had one bad game this season and has outscored its opponents quite convincingly, except against LSU.
Alabama's only loss this season was in overtime, something the BCS should definitely consider important in determining what team plays against LSU. If the Tigers routed Alabama, sure, Oklahoma State or Stanford could be considered.
"We don't know how it's all going to play out, but we put on a show (against Auburn)," Alabama tight end Brad Smelley said. "I feel like the odds are in our favor."
I couldn't agree with him any more.
I can already hear plenty of people telling me that a rematch between Alabama and LSU will be nothing but a boring defensive struggle. If that's the case, I say bring it on.
The teams first meeting this season was the epitome of smashmouth football and I'm sure if these two teams meet again for the BCS title, it will be one night to remember for a very, very long time to come.
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