Conference Title Week

For the third consecutive season, the LSU Tigers find themselves in the driver's seat to play for the BCS National Championship. Tonight (7:45 pm EST kickoff, CBS), the #1 ranked LSU Tigers venture back into the Georgia Dome for a rematch against 10th-ranked Florida. The Tigers will not only have an angry bunch of Gators to tame, but the proverbial 'monkey on the back' will also be fighting to keep the Tigers from winning tonight's game.



In week 14 of season 2, LSU took a #1 ranking into Miami for a showdown with Miami. The Hurricanes used a steady dose of its patented "Hurricane Pain Train" to beat the Tigers 34-31, crushing the Tigers' national title dreams. And again, last season, in the SEC title game, a 9-3 Florida team overcame an early 10 point deficit to upend the #2 ranked Tigers, keeping them out of the national title game.

Will the 3rd time be a charm for LSU? Will they be able to overcome Florida's unprecendented speed on both sides of the ball, as well that silly monkey who wreaks havoc on sports stars everywhere.

"We know we've got to play well to win tonight," said LSU coach UTVOL54, whose team beat Florida 38-20 in week 6 of this season. "Florida is playing well, and had a tough loss against FSU last week, so they will be fighting for their lives tonight. It's all about that SEC title, and the bottom line is, the winner will be going bowling in New Orleans (Florida the Sugar Bowl, LSU the National Title Game in New Orleans), and the loser will be heading to see Mickey Mouse at the Capital One Bowl."

Coach UTVOL54 is probably right, as #4 Alabama has all but wrapped up an at-large birth in a BCS bowl game.

The keys to this game will be LSU's ability to contain Florida freshman sensation Scott Simmons, both on offense and on special teams, and Florida's ability to limit turnovers and createconfusion for LSU 5th year senior QB Jarrett Lee.

#3 Clemson defeated #7 Virginia Tech in the ACC title game 91-3 last night. Now, the Tigers have to wait and hope that a) they either vault past #2 USC or b) Florida beats LSU. Otherwise, Clemson may have to settle on watching the national title game for the first time in RUTS history.

Clemson Coach utvol27 has even placed an incentive on the market for the Gators if they can succesfully knock off LSU, giving Clemson a sure birth in the national title game again.



The drama will unfold tonight in the Georgia Dome. LSU is a 5 point favorite, but when it comes to these two teams...always expect the unexpected. And beware of that crazy monkey, who may pop up at any moment in tonight's game to thwart LSU's bid for a national title game birth.

"We're well aware of the monkey and his tendency to fling poo at us," said UTVOL54. "This time, we will be ready with poo of our own to fling back."