First-Person: BCS Title Game Festivities and Prediction

I arrived in New Orleans a couple of days early before the game to soak in all of the excitement and let me tell you, it is madness here in LSU. Bourbon Street has been filled with LSU Tiger and Ohio State fans running around in the streets shouting at each other. The trash talking has been at an all-time high.

LSU could really use the victory on Monday night as the city of New Orleans desperately needs a winner. Last year the New Orleans Saints surprised everyone and reached the NFC championship game but let the fans down when they lost to the Chicago Bears. This year the Saints failed to reach the playoffs as expectations were stacking up. An LSU BCS win would really lift the spirits of the entire city and give the area a glimmer of hope and happiness.

LSU will also dominate with "home field advantage" as the game will be played at the Superdome, involving very little traveling for the Tigers. If the raucous scene in New Orleans has been any indication, the fans will be extremely loud and supportive of their local college team.

However, don't think that the Ohio State Buckeyes will be playing without the support of their fans. Buckeye fans are as loyal as any other group of collegiate fans. Thousands of fans already made the trip down south to New Orleans to prepare for the festivities. In fact, most of the fans that I talked to last night actually took the 900 mile, 14 hour trip to New Orleans in their cars. In fact Ohio State fans are so hardcore that several of them were spotted on Bourbon Street with their faces painted red, silver and white. They seemed nearly as focused as the players will be on Monday. Many of the fans are still better over their November 10^th loss to Illinois, which made them lose their grasp on an undefeated season.