Tigers earn sweet bid

Going on rumors and speculation that LSU was headed to Pasadena to play Michigan on New Year?s Day, 42,000 fans reportedly bought Rose Bowl tickets. Those folks found themselves scrambling late Saturday night after UCLA?s 13-9 victory over Southern California and Florida?s 38-28 victory over Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game turned the whole BCS picture upside down.

Florida vaulted to No. 2 in the final Bowl Championship Series poll and earned a spot in the national title game, leaving the Tigers to fill the SEC?s obligation to the Sugar Bowl. LSU?s last trip to the Superdome came in January 2004, when it posted a 21-14 victory over Oklahoma.

Les Miles doesn?t care where his squad plays. LSU is back in a big-dollar BCS game and has a chance as a contender for next year?s national title with a victory over Notre Dame, a team that is synonymous with college football.

Many credit former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis for waking up the ghosts at Notre Dame, but the Gold Domers are still not what they once were. The Fighting Irish are riding an eight-game bowl-losing streak.

Sugar Bowl, Jan. 3

Notre Dame vs. LSU

n Records: Notre Dame 10-2 (Independent); LSU 10-2 (6-2 SEC West). n Coaches: Notre Dame?s Charlie Weis (19-5); LSU?s Les Miles (49-25). n Series: Notre Dame leads 5-4. n Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. 3, in New Orleans. n TV: Fox.

Keys for LSU: Don?t forget about Darius Walker. While most of the talk centers on Brady Quinn and Notre Dame?s passing attack, the junior running back has run for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns. . . . Keep turnovers to a minimum. The Tigers? five turnovers against Florida may have cost them a shot at the national title.

Keys for Notre Dame: Contain LSU?s receivers. Georgia Tech?s Calvin Johnson, Michigan?s Mario Manningham, Southern California?s Dwayne Jarrett and Purdue?s Selwyn Lymon collected a combined 618 yards and nine touchdowns against the Fighting Irish this season.

Independence Bowl, Dec. 28

Alabama vs. Oklahoma State

n Records: Alabama 6-6 (2-6 SEC West); Oklahoma State 6-6 (3-5 Big 12 South). n Coaches: Alabama?s Joe Kines (3-6-1); Oklahoma State?s Mike Gundy (10-13). n Series: First meeting. n Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 28, at Shreveport, La. n TV: ESPN.

Keys for Alabama: Get the running game on track. Since rushing for a season-best 162 yards in a 26-23 win over Mississippi, Kenneth Darby has rushed for 234 yards over the last five games. . . . An improved return game. The Crimson Tide rank ninth and 10th, respectively, among conference teams in punt returns and kickoff returns.

Key for Oklahoma State: Stay with quarterback Bobby Reid, because he gives the Cowboys their best shot at winning. Reid ran for 33 yards and a score and threw for 82 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-12 passing in a 27-21 loss to Oklahoma in the regular-season finale, but Zac Robinson finished the game.

Music City Bowl, Dec. 29.

Kentucky vs. Clemson

n Records: Kentucky 7-5 (4-4 SEC East); Clemson 8-4 (5-3 ACC Atlantic). n Coaches: Kentucky?s Rich Brooks (107-139-4); Clemson?s Tommy Bowden (78-41). n Series: Kentucky leads 7-4. n Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 29, in Nashville, Tenn. n TV: ESPN.

Keys for Kentucky: Andre? Woodson needs to get his playmakers ? Rafael Little, Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons Jr. ? involved early. . . . Hold the line. Foes have a third-down success rate of 47 percent against the SEC?s worst defense.

Keys for Clemson: Defensive end Gaines Adams. The ACC?s Defensive Player of the Year had 56 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks during the regular season. . . . Offensive line play. Guard Nathan Bennett and tackle Barry Richardson lead a group that has yielded only three sacks this season.

Liberty Bowl, Dec. 29

South Carolina vs. Houston

n Records: South Carolina 7-5 (3-5 SEC East); Houston 10-3 (7-1 Conference USA West). n Coaches: South Carolina?s Steve Spurrier (156-50-2); Houston?s Art Briles (26-23). n Series: Houston leads 2-0. n Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 29, in Memphis. n TV: ESPN.

Keys for South Carolina: Let Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb do his thing, but stop the run. Kolb ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency and total offense, but the Cougars averaged a net of 51.3 rushing yards in their three losses. . . . Long drives. The Gamecocks have six scoring drives of 90 or more yards this season.

Keys for Houston: Touches for Vincent Marshall. Marshall threw for an 18-yard gain and caught eight passes in a 34-20 victory over Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA final.

Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 30

Georgia vs. Virginia Tech

n Records: Georgia 8-4 (4-4 SEC East); Virginia Tech 10-2 (6-2 ACC Coastal). n Coaches: Georgia?s Mark Richt (60-17); Virginia Tech?s Frank Beamer (198-104-4). n Series: Tied 1-1. n Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 30, in Atlanta. n TV: ESPN.

Keys for Georgia: A repeat performance by the Georgia defense. The Bulldogs intercepted Reggie Ball twice in the regular season finale and held the Georgia Tech quarterback to 42 yards on 6 of 22 passing in a 15-12 win. . . . Ball protection and sound special teams. The Hokies? knack for scoring off interceptions, fumbles, kick returns and blocked kicks under Beamer has vaulted them into the national spotlight.

Keys for Virginia Tech: Three-and-out. The nation?s top defense has held its last six opponents to a combined 20 conversions on 85 third-down opportunities. . . . Sound game management by Sean Glennon. The Virginia Tech quarterback isn?t as gifted as predecessors Michael Vick, Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick, but his will has helped the program garner its third consecutive 10-win season.

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Next week: BCS National Title Game, Florida vs. Ohio State; Outback Bowl, Tennessee vs. Penn State; Cotton Bowl, Auburn vs. Nebraska; Capital One Bowl, Arkansas vs. Wisconsin.