1 vs. 2?

Couldn't just sit idly by and watch NFL games this Sunday, because last night a travesty happened.

The No. 1 LSU Tigers beat the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide 9-6, in overtime. And, as that score would seem to indicate, it was bad.

First, let's get all of this out of the way first. Yes, LSU and Alabama are both excellent college football teams this year, unquestionably two of the country's top five (conservatively). Yes, the SEC is the best league in the country, by far. Yes, both teams in this game have excellent defenses that have been good all year. But all of that stuff didn't matter Saturday night. Because the game sucked.

What's aggravating is that now people are still trying to let us "average" or "casual" fans of the game know that we witnessed greatness last night. We saw a "classic" game, according to Pat Forde, an excellent college football writer, and we just can't appreciate it. But Forde is just wrong.

First, let's go over the stats. Both teams managed just two field goals during regulation (and for each team, one of those field goals was aided by an interception leading to a short field). Neither team managed 300 total yards in the game (Bama 296, LSU 239). Alabama averaged a miserable 6.9 yards per pass attempt, but dominated LSU, who only averaged 5.4. LSU made up their deficit in the passing game, however, with an unimpressive 3.6 yards per rush, besting Bama's 3.1. Both teams threw two interceptions. O yeah, did I mention that Alabama went 2 for 6 kicking field goals? Yep, the player of the game was LSU kicker Drew Alleman, who went 3 for 3. Even Alleman wasn't that impressive though, cause the longest field goal he kicked was 30 yards.

According to Forde, and everyone else, there was a reason for those abysmal offensive numbers: this game was a case of decent offenses playing against great defenses. Okay, fair point. Alabama and LSU are the top two scoring defenses in the country, respectively. Take a quick look at Alabama's and LSU's schedules leading up to Saturday's contest, though. Bama, the nation's top scoring defense, is giving up 7.1 points per game. They have given up six or more points (the amount LSU scored in four quarters) to Kent State, Penn State, Arkansas, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee. LSU is giving up 10.9 points per game. They have given up six or more points to Oregon, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn. I understand that neither Bama nor LSU has to have a great offense to be the best team in the country. Bama couldn't outscore Mississippi State or Kentucky, though? LSU couldn't outdo the effort Kent State or Penn State (that slow, inept Big 10, remember) delivered? Please.

Yes, the defenses played well last night. But the offenses were downright awful. And because this game was such a supposed "classic", teams are already clamoring for a rematch in the national championship game. If that were to happen, it would be a disaster. The nation is still disillusioned about Saturday's game, and believes it was a good one. They won't be able to endure 4+ more quarters like that. I would rather LSU stomp on Oklahoma State or Stanford (I don't believe that would happen) and have to endure another year of hearing about SEC supremacy than watch another over-hyped suckfest like last night.