The SEC has already come up short in the Cotton Bowl (Arkansas lost to the Big 12's Missouri 38-7) and the Capital One Bowl (Florida fell to the Big Ten's Michigan 41-35).

Ohio State and LSU have players that can do many things. Here's a position-by-position look.

- Quarterbacks: Ohio State's Todd Boeckman is a big, lumbering quarterback at 6-5 and 235 pounds, who should not give LSU the problems that Kentucky's Andre Woodson and Ole Miss' Brent Schaeffer did. But Boeckman, a senior, is the No. 13 rated passer in the nation with a 150.2 rating (175-for-272, 2,164 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions).

LSU's Matt Flynn ranks 77th in the nation (183-for-332, 2,233 yards,17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions). Flynn is a clutch player, and the Tigers have a more proven backup in the flashy Ryan Perrilloux, who should get to throw some in this game considering his performance in the SEC championship game.

If Ohio State's coaches watched how LSU suffered against mobile quarterbacks, they may play red-shirt freshman backup quarterback Antonio Henton in spots. Henton rushed nine times for 41 yards this season.

- Advantage: Ohio State.

- Running backs: The Buckeyes have a very good one in sophomore Chris Wells, who ran for 1,463 yards with 14 touchdowns this season. But they don't have as many as LSU, which will have some new plays and packages for backups Keiland Williams, Charles Scott, Trindon Holliday and Richard Murphy. It will start with the Tigers' 1,000-yard rusher Jacob Hester.

- Advantage: LSU.

- Receivers: Ohio State has some good ones in Brian Robiskie (50 catches, 885 yards, 10 TDs) and Brian Hartline (46, 619, 5 TDs), but LSU has more talent and speed, particularly with senior Early Doucet, who is finally healthy after a groin injury. Despite being hurt, Doucet led the team with 50 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns. Demetrius Byrd (33, 593, 7 TDs) also emerged, and tight end Richard Dickson plays like a Big Ten receiver.

- Advantage: LSU.

- Offensive line: This is where the Big Ten brawn comes in. The Buckeyes linemen all weigh in at 300 pounds or more, and all but center Jim Cordle are upper classmen. Left tackle Alex Boone is a towering 6-8 and 313 pounds and has 6-8, 345-pound Steve Rehring next to him at guard. Right tackle Kirk Barton is 6-6, 300 pounds, with Ben Person at right guard weighing in at 6-4 and 321. That bunch will have to neutralize LSU's Glenn Dorsey, the senior defensive tackle who won the Lombardi Award, the Outland Trophy, the Nagurski Award and the Lott Award.

LSU has size and bulk as well, with 6-7, 360-pound Herman Johnson at left guard and 6-5, 320-pound Ciron Black at left tackle. Center Brett Helms is the smallest at 6-2, 270, but he may be the best lineman. He will have the most difficult assignment against Ohio State's All-American middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.

- Advantage: Ohio State.

- Defensive line: The Buckeyes' Vernon Gholston is a quality end and was named Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, but he doesn't have a lot of help.

Dorsey is healthy for LSU and he's got a fresh Ricky-Jean Francois next to him at tackle. Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman are also as good as any defensive ends in the nation.

- Advantage: LSU.

- Linebackers: Laurinaitis made 19 tackles against Wisconsin and intercepted two passes against Washington on his way to winning the Butkus Award. Outside linebacker Marcus Freeman is a second-year starter with enough speed to cover the pass. Outside linebacker Larry Grant can play any of the three positions. This position is a major reason why Ohio State is No. 1 in the nation in total defense with 225.25 yards allowed a game.

Now healthy in the middle with Darry Beckwith, LSU is very good here, too. Ohio State's backs and receivers have not seen the speed of outside linebacker Ali Highsmith. Luke Sanders is a solid senior on the other side.

- Advantage: Ohio State.

- Secondary: The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the nation against the pass with 148.17 yards allowed. Malcolm Jenkins is a very good cornerback and first-year starters Donald Washington and Kurt Coleman have played well at cornerback and strong safety along with second-year starter Anderson Russell at free safety.

LSU is 10th in the nation against the pass with 180.7 yards allowed, but it has a pair of high-round draft picks in strong safety Craig Steltz and cornerback Chevis Jackson. A better pass rush could help this unit.

- Advantage: Even.

- Special teams: Kicker Ryan Pretorius (17 of 21 field goals) and punter A.J. Trapasso (41-yard average) are as consistent as LSU's Colt David (25 of 32) and Patrick Fisher (43.9). Neither have shown a lot in the return game.

- Advantage: Even.

- Coaching: Ohio State's Jim Tressel has coached in eight national championship games and won five - four at Division I-AA Youngstown State and one BCS title at Ohio State. Tressel has also won four Big Ten titles.

LSU coach Les Miles is 33-6 in three seasons at LSU with an SEC championship last month.

Tressel is a cool and collected professorial type, whereas Miles is developing a riverboat-gambler persona. Tressel gets the nod because of his big-game experience, but Miles may have a better staff.

- Advantage: Ohio State.

- Intangibles: LSU feels at home because it is at home in the Louisiana Superdome. Ohio State may as well be at the Big House. The Buckeyes are reveling in the underdog role, however, after failing miserably as a favorite last year in a 41-14 loss to Florida in the national title game. LSU could be a tad overconfident.

- Advantage: LSU.