[sportsfan2006]

By Jeff Zell
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Who: No. 4 LSU (10-2) vs. No. 11 Notre Dame (10-2)
Where: New Orleans, Superdome
When: Wednesday, 8 p.m. (Fox)
WagerWeb.com line: LSU -8.5 (55.5)

How They Got Here: LSU won its final six regular-season games to claim an at-large spot in the BCS. Many consider the Tigers one of the hottest teams in college football. Their only two losses came on the road in two of the toughest places to play: Auburn and Florida. Notre Dame claimed an at-large bid as well. Its two losses came to Rose Bowl opponents Michigan and USC. Before falling to the Trojans on the road, the Fighting Irish had won eight in a row.

Breakdown

LSU Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense: Junior QB JaMarcus Russell is the playmaker for an extremely athletic Tigers offense. Russell is the third-most efficient QB in college football, throwing for 2,797 yards and 26 TDs. His go-to receivers are Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet – all three have caught over 50 balls this year. Stopping the No. 18 offensive unit in the nation in total yards would mean Notre Dame would have to play its best defensive game all year. The key to stopping LSU would be messing with Russell’s timing. Victor Abiamiri has been a sack machine this year, getting to the quarterback 10 times. Linebacker Maurice Crum will have the responsibility of leading the push to stop LSU’s run game. Senior defensive back Tom Zbikowski will have to play lights out to stop Russell’s passing game.

Notre Dame Offense vs. LSU Defense: If Notre Dame wins this football game, the Irish will have most likely outscored LSU. The second-team All-American hookup of Brady Quinn to Jeff Samardzija will be huge, but also has been a decoy all year. Senior WR Rhema McKnight leads Notre Dame in touchdown catches (15), with scores in every game except two. Getting RB Darius Walker his touches could also be key to victory. Notre Dame is 8-0 when Walker gets more than 20 carries. LSU ranks No. 3 in total defense, No. 3 in pass defense, and No. 5 in scoring offense. Stopping the run starts with a push up front from defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Ballhawk Ali Highsmith then can fill the holes and make the tackles. Senior LaRon Landry leads the team in tackles and is the leader in the secondary.

Special Teams: LSU possesses tremendous athleticism and can take one back at any time. In the Tigers' final game, Trindon Holliday returned a kick to nearly put the icing on the cake in a win over Arkansas. For Notre Dame, Zbikowski has returned a punt for a touchdown this season. Kicker Carl Gioia has struggled all season for the Irish.

Coaching: Offensive mastermind Charlie Weis has an advantage over Les Miles. Weis has coached Super Bowl-winning teams and has turned good players into great players when a lot is on the line. Miles' teams have been beaten on the road; however, playing in the Superdome, LSU will have a Tiger-partisan crowd.

Prediction: LSU 38-35

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