Sugar Bowl
Notre Dame vs. LSU
New Orleans, LA, Louisiana Superdome
January 3, 2007, FOX
BCS vs. BCS
(SEC Champion to play here if available)
For those of you who believed LSU was the SEC's best team at the end of the season, now's your chance to pretend it's true as it goes into the traditional SEC champion's spot to face a Notre Dame team still searching for a big win under Charlie Weis. With two losses to USC, and after getting pantsed by Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl and Michigan in South Bend earlier this year, the program has to start justifying all the hype, With a slew of next-level recruits on the way, a win over the Tigers, playing in what might amount to Death Valley, The Indoor Version, would set the tone for what should be a return to even more glory days for the blue and gold. LSU has won six straight since a tough loss at Florida and can finish with its second straight 11-win season under head coach Les Miles.
Quick Breakdown: Can Notre Dame's secondary handle the speed of the LSU receivers? The Irish corners have been roasted all season long by any receiver with a pulse, and now they have to deal with an underrated passing attack that can bomb away when needed. The Irish offensive line has to protect Brady Quinn against one of college football's fiercest pass rushes, while the receiving corps has to deal with the nation's third best pass defense. LSU gave up just nine touchdown passes all season long.
Best Wins: LSU 31-26 over Arkansas, Notre Dame 17-10 over Georgia Tech
What to Expect: Unless Weis and his staff outcoach Miles and his staff by leaps and bounds, this has blowout potential. This is a bad, bad matchup for the Irish having to face a veteran quarterback in JaMarcus Russell, the Tigers having too much athleticism at the skill positions, and the Irish not having enough pass protection to pull off the win. If you liked USC and Michigan's games against the Irish, get ready for round three.
Early Prediction: LSU 38 ... Notre Dame 20
