The biggest match-up in all of college football is finally here - No. 1 Notre Dame challenges No. 2 Alabama for the national title in the BCS Championship game at 8 p.m. EST Monday night.
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With the fighting Irish and crimson Tide packing the No. 1 and No. 2 scoring defenses in all of college football, respectively, this year's BCS championship is all about defense. Both teams expertly control their opponents' offensive gains, each giving up less than 11 points per game this season. If both defenses are playing at the height of their powers - a likely scenario, considering all the time they've had off - Monday's game should be a low-scoring affair, which will put a premium on yards and points, and break the race for game MVP wide open. It often just takes one big play to win MVP in low-scoring match-ups, so, if the Irish and Tide can control scoring as tightly as they have all season, MVP could be entirely up for grabs.
Notre Dame's defense is counting on Hiesman finalist linebacker Manti Te'o to disrupt Alabama's star quarterback A.J. McCarron. Playing in his final college game, the heart and soul of Notre Dame's stellar defense should be playing like there's no tomorrow, so, expect the normally fierce Te'o's performance to be just that much more amplified. Considering the senior linebacker's already electrifying season, recording 103 tackles, seven interceptions and 5.5 tackles for a loss in 12 games, the Tide will need its towering offensive line to play its best football all year if they want to have any hope of opening up the McCarron's passing game. Te'o is likely hoping pressure to McCaaron into making the same mistakes he did in the Tide's one loss this year to Texas A&M when the starter threw two interceptions.
The Tide clearly has a proficient QB in McCaaron, but if the team really wants to break down the Irish's stout defense it needs to establish its running game early on. Lucky for Alabama, it has a spectacular and tremendous offensive line and two of the best running backs in college football. The team counts 13 offensive lineman at 290 pounds or more.
The Tide's pair of star running backs, Eddie Lacey and freshman T.J. Yeldon, has been the best tandem running attack in the nation all season. Lacey recorded 184 carries for 1,182 yards and 16 touchdowns, Yeldon took 154 carries for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, and both running backs broke the 100-yard mark in games against Missouri and Georgia. We wouldn't bet on the Irish letting that happen Monday night, but no doubt Lacey and Yeldon will be the focus of Alabama's offensive plan, and the dominant forces in the game for the team.
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