BCS Blogging

I'm a little worn out from hanging out all day yesterday with Robert Stacy McCain. I'll have a full report of the activities later -- which'll include some on the ground coverage from Pasadena -- but in the meantime check out The Other McCain, and also the Los Angeles Times, "BCS: Fate dictates Texas will win but the facts favor Alabama":

Signs and portents make the Longhorns the feel-good favorite at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Or not. Take off that tinfoil hat with the horns, the mean and hungry Tide will carry the day.

Texas will win the national championship because, in La-La land, people like scripts that come full circle, having their fortunes told and Jupiter aligned with Mars.

There are too many coincidences to think it can go any other way -- at least that's what the palm reader said.

Four years ago, at the Rose Bowl, Texas defeated USC to win the national title.

Before trotting onto the field to lead Texas on the game-winning drive, quarterback Vince Young turned to a skinny redshirt freshman holding a clipboard and told him to pay attention because he was going to be in this position someday.

"Watch what I do," Young told Colt McCoy.

And then Young went out and won the game.

Having paid close attention, McCoy has led Texas back to the national title game at the Rose Bowl.

"I tried to soak that all in," McCoy said this week.

One thing McCoy learned: "Your team has to trust you. The team has to want the ball in your hands."

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Alabama (13-0) will win the national championship because it's the better team and anyone who thinks fate is involved probably believes in flying saucers and sorcery.

Football games aren't won with inspiring pregame speeches or because "wouldn't it be neat if Colt McCoy won four years after Vince Young?"

Football games are won when gigantic men and serious coaches implement meticulous plans.

Alabama Coach Nick Saban is king of "you've got to go through your checklist" ....

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Texas or Alabama, so which is it going to be?

The odds favor Alabama and a kicker being named MVP. The big fear is the two offenses won't combine for 100 . . . yards.

What's it going to sound like when Alabama's Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, hits a Texas chain saw defense that allows a nation-low 62 rushing yards per game?

When you crunch all the jersey numbers, what gives?

Well, Trojans fans just about died back in 2006 when Vince Young scored that touchdown. I can personally say that that was perhaps the most exciting football game I've ever watched. No doubt the excitement today will be equally compelling for Crimson Tide and Longhorns fans, although I fear the heartbreak on the losing side will be devastating for some.

More later ...