Saban delivers 'Bama SEC West title (cont.)

John Parker Wilson (bottom) scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run in overtime. Bill Frakes/SI Related Links No. 1 Alabama escapes LSU with OT victory Stewart Mandel's Mailbag Submit a question or an opinion to Stewart. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Stewart Mandel on Twitter

It took a 54-yard interception return by Rashad Johnson off an errant downfield pass by Tigers QB Jarrett Lee to keep the score tied 14-14 going into the locker room.

The play would touch off a recurring theme for both players. For Lee, the redshirt freshman whom LSU had to throw into the fire this season following expected starter Ryan Perrilloux's dismissal, it marked his sixth pick-six of the season. Lee had his worst game yet, finishing 13-of-34 for 181 yards, and would throw three more picks before the night was done.

Alabama asserted itself early in the second half, producing a 69-yard touchdown drive on its second series, of which Coffee accounted for all but 19 yards. The others came on a pass from Wilson to Julio Jones, the freakish freshman receiver who established himself early and often as the most impressive athlete on the field. He would finish with seven catches for 128 yards.

But the Tide's offense stalled from there, and Lee pulled himself together long enough to produce a game-tying touchdown drive with 6:12 left.

Alabama would get two more chances to reclaim the lead in regulation before falling on its own sword. An apparent 32-yard touchdown run by Wilson with just over three minutes left was wiped out by a holding call, forcing 'Bama to punt. After stopping LSU three-and-out, Alabama methodically drove back downfield behind a strong dose of Coffee and lined up for a game-winning 29-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left. But just like he did against Ohio State in last year's BCS title game, Tigers DT Ricky Jean-Francois soared into the sky and blocked Leigh Tiffin's kick.

It was on to overtime, where LSU figured to play it safe and put as little responsibility as possible on its struggling quarterback's shoulders. Not so. On third-and-six, Lee launched a throw into the end zone that Johnson picked off in stride. It was the senior's third interception of the day, the 11th of his career -- and unquestionably his most important.

"I knew it was a possibility we could come in and rattle [Lee] because he's a redshirt freshman," said Johnson. "I saw him roll out, and we brought a blitz so he couldn't get all the way out and throw the out route like he normally does. He was looking for his receiver on that side and just overthrew him."

At that point Alabama took over at the LSU 25 and, needing only a field goal to win, also figured to play it safe. Again -- not so. "We decided to with a big play off the bat," said Saban, in which Wilson threw toward the front corner of the end zone and connected with Jones, who went out of bounds at the Tigers' 1. Two plays later, Wilson snuck across the goal line, and the first set of Tide fans back home could begin booking their trips to Atlanta.

"For the first time this season we had to come from behind, play the whole game and win in overtime," said Wilson, whose team had outscored its previous nine opponents 198-26 in the first half. Everyone stayed upbeat the whole game. We executed when we had to and won the game."

It certainly wasn't the Tide's prettiest effort. In addition to the offensive miscues, 'Bama's fourth-ranked defense gave up more total yards (382) and rushing yards (201) than they had all season.

But it was never realistic to think the Tide would go the entire regular season unchallenged. With a young roster and questionable depth, it's remarkable Saban's team has even managed to win this many games, much less knock off three ranked foes (Clemson, Georgia and LSU) away from home.

Considering the extent of the hostility they walked into Saturday, no one would have been surprised to see the Tide fall here, regardless of LSU's numerous issues. They caught their share of breaks for sure, but they also made two indisputably clutch plays in overtime (Johnson's interception and Jones' catch) to get the "W."

"It was probably the most exciting game I've ever been a part of in my career," said Caldwell. "This game had a little bit of everything. To overcome all that adversity, it shows how special this football team is."

At the very least, they've established themselves as the most "special" team this long-suffering program has seen since 1999, the last time Alabama reached the SEC title game. That year, the 9-2 Tide were a considerable underdog that knocked off Steve Spurrier-led Florida in Atlanta.

This 'Bama team appears headed for another showdown with the Gators -- only this time, the stakes could be much, much higher. Barring upsets, the Tide will be 12-0 and the Gators 11-1. Yet despite their No. 1 ranking, the Tide will likely find themselves the underdogs yet again if Florida keeps spanking foes the way it has recently. Defending Tim Tebow will be a slightly more daunting task than Jarrett Lee.

But it won't be the first time 'Bama has had its doubters. It was the same tune against Clemson and against Georgia. And when Kiffin's kick got blocked Saturday night and Tiger Stadium, giving LSU and its raucous crowd new life, most of the 93,039 in attendance likely put a fork in the Tide then, too.

But at some point the disbelief has to dissipate. Alabama really is 10-0. Saban really has managed to exceed even the most delusional expectations. And barring a monumental collapse against Mississippi State or Auburn, the Tide really will be playing for a spot in the BCS championship game come Dec. 6.

Not that you'll hear it from Saban.

"When you start talking about the BCS, it doesn't get anything done," said the coach. "In fact, it's toxic."

You probably won't hear those three letters uttered in the Alabama locker room this week. You might hear some more sordid ones once Saban gets done watching Saturday's tape.