Teams like Georgia may disagree, but this is a proper national title game. Too bad the Buckeyes couldn’t bring their whole team to the Superdome. Cornerback Eugene Clifford has been suspended for this game for violating team rules. But he was a backup to Malcolm Jenkins and won’t be missed much on this first-rate OSU defense.

Not that Ohio State doesn’t need all its weapons against the Tigers. Even with those two overtime losses, LSU was the top-ranked team in the nation in efficiency; OSU was third. More importantly, the Tigers finally have both their quarterbacks in game shape. Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux are capable of chewing up yardage through the air and with their scrambling.

LSU lays four points and the total is just 49.5, but this game doesn’t figure to be as close as it looks. The difference should be the underappreciated (!) Tigers defense, led by Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Glenn Dorsey at tackle.