Jan. 5, 2008

MONDAY, JANUARY 7
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.
8 p.m. ET - FOX

OSU		LSU
	Scoring
32.0	Pts./ Game	38.7
10.7	Pts. Allowed/ Game	19.6
32:18	Time of Possession	32:07
	Rushing
200.7	Yds/Game	218.9
77.1	Yds Allowed/ Game	103.1
20	TDs	34
	Passing
196.4	Yds/ Game	229.2
148.2	Yds Allowed/ Game	180.8
196-304	Completions/Attempts	237-415
64.5	Completion %	57.1
24/12	TDs/ INTs	25/12
	Turnovers
18	Takeaways	33
19	Giveaways	15

THE SERIES
Overall: Ohio State, 1-0-1
Last Time Out: 1988 - Ohio State, 36-33
Noteworthy: The Buckeyes and Tigers have met only twice on the gridiron and not since the 1988 season. In a home-and-home series, the two teams tied 13-13 in 1987 in Baton Rouge, prior to OSU winning in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, 36-33, the following year in Columbus.

STAT SPEAK
Ohio State is bound for New Orleans and determined to avenge last season's BCS National Championship loss to Florida for its eighth national championship overall. The Buckeyes last claimed the title with a double-overtime win over Miami in the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. This time around could be different for the Buckeyes as they will be facing LSU in its backyard of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Tigers are seeking their third national championship, returning to the same venue where they wound up sharing the national title with consensus No. 1 USC after the Tigers defeated Oklahoma, 21-14, in the 2004 Sugar Bowl.

All eyes will be on Ohio State and how it responds to another 51-day layoff from its last game against rival Michigan. The Buckeyes had 51 days off last season and opened flat against the Gators and later fell 41-14. LSU's intriguing statistic is that it is the first team with two losses to play in the BCS National Championship game. Both of the Tigers' losses came in triple overtime this season, as LSU was upset 43-37 at Kentucky in mid-October and fell 50-48 at home to Arkansas in the regular-season finale.

Both teams have winning records in close games decided by seven points since the 2001 season. LSU is 19-7 and OSU is 14-5 in those occurrences, and both have winning percentages of over 90 percent when scoring 20 points or more in a game. Remarkably, both teams are capable of winning the big games in shootouts as LSU is 83-3 (.965) in games where it scores 30 or more points, while Ohio State is a perfect 60-0.

OHIO STATE ON OFFENSE
The Buckeyes' offense ranked 20th in the nation this season with a rushing attack that mustered 201.2 yards per game, which also ranked third in the Big Ten along with their scoring average of 32.0 points per outing. Sophomore Chris "Beanie" Wells was the conference' second-leading rusher, accumulating 1,463 yards on the ground with 14 touchdowns, while ranking third in the conference with a 12-game average of 121.9 yards a contest. Despite ranking ninth in the Big Ten in passing (195.8) and eighth in total offense (397.1), the Buckeyes were consistently led under center this season by junior Todd Boeckman in his first full campaign since replacing Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith last year. Boeckman was the league's most efficient passer with a rating of 150.2, which ranked 13th-best in the country. His completion percentage of 64.5 was the highest among all conference quarterbacks and he finished the regular season with 2,171 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His average of 180.3 yards through the air each time out was ninth in the conference, but he managed to find big-play receiver Brian Robiskie for 73.8 yards of that average. The junior wideout, who paced OSU with 885 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, led the conference with a per-catch average of 17.7 yards and ranked sixth in the Big Ten in total reception yards per outing.

LSU ON DEFENSE
The Buckeyes' James Lauinaitis entered the season as the defending Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the nation's top defensive player, but was beat out in the postseason by LSU's Glenn Dorsey. Despite a nagging sore knee and lower back issues late in the season, the defensive tackle recorded six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, both of which were not among the conference's top-10 totals. Still the Tigers' defensive leader claimed the Lombardi, Outland and Lott awards as well to become the most decorated defender in school history. In 13 games this season, Dorsey helped and LSU defense that ranks among the country's top 10 in total defense (3rd, 283.9), pass efficiency defense (3rd, 96.16) and pass defense (9th, 180.77). The Tigers also rank 14th overall in defending the run, allowing just 103.1 yards per game, and 20th in scoring (19.6). Seniors Craig Steltz (7.5) and Ali Highsmith (7.2) are the Tigers top tacklers and rank 11th and 12th, respectively in the SEC. Steltz has also forced three fumbles on the season, while sophomore Al Woods led the conference by recovering three. Senior cornerback Chevis Jackson was second in the league with 1.46 passed defended each game.

LSU ON OFFENSE
The Tigers found success this season with a two-quarterback system in senior Matt Flynn and sophomore Ryan Perrilloux. Flynn will likely be the starter in the national title game and presents more of a traditional pocket-passing attack. He threw for 2,233 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, while ranking fifth in conference passing (203.0) and total offense (221.8). He was the league's sixth-most efficient passer with a rating of 122.5, but completed 55.1 percent of his passes, which was the SEC's third-lowest percentage. Perrilloux, who subbed for an injured Flynn in the SEC Championship game, is more of a scrambling quarterback. He finished the regular season with 694 yards passing, eight scores and two interceptions. The two signal callers together led a high-powered offense that averaged 38.7 points per game, the nation's 12th-best scoring offense. LSU topped the 40-point mark seven times in 2007 and defeated six ranked teams. On the ground the Tigers are led by senior Jacob Hester, who ranked 10th in the conference with 78.2 yards per game, but was one of only six league backs to surpass 1,000 yards on the year. Keiland Williams (35.2, 6 TDs), Trindon Holliday (29.2, 2) and Charles Scott (24.5, 5) also played roles in the backfield this season. No one receiver was among the conference's top 10 this year, but Early Doucet (52.7), Brandon LaFell (49.3) and Demetrius Byrd (45.6) are all deep threats. Byrd is the Tiger's big-play maker, averaging 18.0 yards per catch. As a unit, LSU ranked second in conference rushing (218.9), third in total offense (448.2) and fifth in passing (229.2).

OHIO STATE ON DEFENSE
The Buckeyes boast the nation's top defense, ranking first in scoring (10.7), passing (148.2) and total defense (225.2), while rating third in rushing (77.1) and sacks (3.5), as well as sixth in tackles for loss (8.3). OSU limited seven teams to single-digit scoring this season and 11 of its 12 opponents to two touchdowns or less. Laurinaitis, the Butkus Award winner, ranked eighth in the Big Ten with 8.6 tackles per game, and led the team with five sacks and also added two interceptions. Junior linebacker Marcus Freeman registered 7.9 stops per outing, while lineman Vernon Gholston ranked fourth nationally with 13.0 sacks and was tied for sixth in the league with 14.5 tackles for loss. In the secondary, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins had a team-best three INTs, while freshman Chimdi Chekwa ranked ninth in the conference in passes defended. Through 12 games, the Buckeyes forced 66 three-and-out possessions, including a school record of 13 consecutive possessions against Akron. OSU closed out the regular season by forcing 10 three-and-outs at Michigan.

KEYS TO A BUCKEYE WIN
Ohio State needs to gain the momentum of the came early. There will undoubtedly be a majority of LSU fans filling the Superdome creating a home-game atmosphere for the Tigers. Whether it is by scoring or creating turnovers, the Buckeyes need to storm out of the gate and quiet the crowd. Playing smash-mouth football could also prove advantageous for the Buckeyes, so strap up Beanie Wells and be ready to establish the running game early. If Wells is successful, that will open up the passing game for Boeckman. On defense, the Buckeyes need to keep up with the LSU quarterback changes and stay disciplined while respecting both Flynn's ability to pass and Perrilloux's capability to keep the ball and run.