Instant Analysis: Sugar Bowl

LSU was initially disappointed to miss the Rose Bowl, but with the Louisiana Superdome once again hosting the Sugar Bowl in post-Katrina New Orleans, the Tigers remembered how good life is when they stay at home for a January bowl game.

The first decade of the 21st century has shown that when LSU plays in the Sugar Bowl, the Tigers can't go wrong. A fellow by the name of Nick Saban won this game in 2002 and 2004, and now Les Miles has a BCS bowl victory under his belt. Pasadena might have offered a more intriguing travel destination for the folks from Baton Rouge, but success always follows when the Bayou Bengals re-enter their home sweet dome for a sugary showdown. In the wake of LSU's ruthless romp over an outclassed Notre Dame ballclub, the Superdome shared part of the glory on a night when the Tigers' talent spilled out in full flower.

It's worth noting that Notre Dame's inconsistent and underperforming offensive line played a virtually flawless first half against LSU's touted defense. In terms of trench warfare and blitz pickups, the Irish absorbed almost all of Tiger defensive coordinator Bo Pelini's forward thrusts, giving Brady Quinn ample time to throw. There were a few times in the first half of play when it seemed that a mistake-prone Tiger team was ceding emotional control of the proceedings to the Irish.

This is where the dome became Super for the Tigers.

Put this BCS game in Pasadena or Glendale--maybe even Miami--and the Irish might have been able to gain more of a foothold in this contest. But with home cooking and a partisan crowd in their favor, the Tigers--gassed on defense because of an eight-minute time of possession advantage by Notre Dame in the first half--regained a full tank of energy in the second half. Whereas bowl game emotions might have cut in a different direction in other locales, LSU used its home away from home to regain confidence, regather some strength, and blow the Irish out of the water in a lopsided second half.

The whole key to the contest was that JaMarcus Russell and the rest of LSU's offense--while sluggish and sloppy at times--were able to focus and finish plays coming out of the locker room in the second half. Russell allowed his awesome natural athleticism to take over. The Tigers' offensive line rededicated itself to the ground game, blowing open holes for Keiland Williams and Justin Vincent after halftime. Bayou Bengal receivers began to gain a little more separation against Notre Dame's secondary. It all added up to a runaway for the roaring Tigers and their raucous home-state fans. LSU had the superior athletes, but in the Superdome, it was that much easier for the Tigers to play with a proper mindset that balanced relaxation with resolve.