When #1 meets #2, a battle of wills is usually expected.

But very rarely is it realized to the degree that it was tonight.

In a classic tussle that may have determined the BCS champion, Louisiana State outlasted Alabama in overtime, 9-6.

This powerhouse matchup featured two ferocious defenses, and neither of them would disappoint. Both teams forced turnovers that kept their opponents at bay.

The Tigers were able to bottle up Heisman candidate Trent Richardson. Richardson flashed his explosiveness on a couple of runs, and at the end of a reception, but the LSU defensive speed keyed on him as the game progressed. Les Miles’ team caught him behind the line on back-to-back carries late in the fourth quarter, stalling a potential game-winning drive by the Crimson Tide. But the play of the game certainly came from LSU safety Eric Reid, who made a spectacular read and came up with an unbelievable interception on a trick pass play intended for tight end Michael Williams (which would have positioned the Tide on the LSU 1-yard line).

Alabama’s defense made things tough on LSU all evening. The Tide consistently stuffed the Tigers’ ground game, and pressured starting quarterback Jarrett Lee into throwing two interceptions.

Les Miles' defense came up with several big plays that led LSU to a tough road win.

But in overtime, it was Alabama that had the tide turn on them. LSU won the coin toss, and made the traditional choice of deferring to the home team to start the first OT session. A startling series of ineffective plays sealed the unfortunate fate for the Tide:

- A screen pass to the middle of the field was muffed due the to immense traffic around the intended receiver, Trent Richardson.

- A formation penalty which knocked Nick Saban’s team back 5 yards.

- An incomplete pass.

- Tide signal caller A.J. McCarron gets sacked.

This forces Cade Foster, who had already missed two field goals earlier in the contest, to attempt a 52-yarder…just to give Alabama a score in its first overtime possession. His confidence was clearly lacking, and the result – a miss – could have been predicted long before he took the field.

That left the Tigers with very little to do – gain a few yards to make the winning field goal attempt somewhat easier, and protect the ball. As expected, the visitors kept the ball on the ground. But Michael Ford found some running room on the outside edge after getting a pitch from Jordan Jefferson, moving the rock down to the Alabama 7-yard line. After a couple of ensuing running plays, Drew Alleman lined up a 25-yard field goal that split the uprights.

After all is said and done, the Tide will have to look back at the opportunities that it let slip by. Foster missed three field goals, two of which came from over 50 yards and another which was blocked. And, of course, Reid’s pick took Alabama out of a scoring opportunity in regulation that could have at least put three points on the board.

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