LSU-Florida, Arizona-Stanford Spark Eternal Offense vs. Defense Debate

October 6, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. (6), defensive back Marcus Roberson (5) and defensive back De

There was something poetic about FOX airing Arizona-Stanford simultaneously with the CBS broadcast of LSU-Florida. The Pac-12 pairing was the proverbial painting in the attic to the SEC’s Dorian Gray. The eternal debate that is offensive vs. defensive football raged on from across the continent.

In the same week Nick Saban derided uptempo football, it seemed SEC partner Florida and LSU took heed. The Tigers were unable to score a touchdown against the athletic and aggressive Gator defense. Florida was only slightly more fortunate against the Tiger defense, which might feature the most NFL talent of any unit in the country. It was your classic, smash mouth, SEC showdown.

Proponents would call it tough, hard nosed football, played the way the sport was intended. Critics would call it ugly, blaming the offensive struggles as much on ineptitude as on defense while drawing allusions to the pre-forward pass era.

Arizona and Stanford was less calculating, with pacing more Con-Air than 2001. The Wildcats and Cardinal personified the stereotype of West Coast football, literally coming down to last-with-possession-wins rules.

Proponents would call it exciting, if not awe-inspiring, the next evolutionary step of the sport. Critics would call it de-evolution, the result of coddling rules and a homogenization meant to appeal to less sophisticated masses.

Saban is one such critic, and there’s a point to his critiques. Alabama has won two of the last three BCS championships because it plays aggressive defense and establishes tone on that side of the ball.

But Alabama has also had one of the most prolific offenses in college football routinely in recent seasons. The Crimson Tide is not the sexiest of offensive teams, but the cache of supremely talented running backs that came through Tuscaloosa as if on a Running Back Factory conveyor belt and game managing quarterbacks produce points.

Florida and LSU — especially LSU — lack that same offensive punch to supplement the tremendous defenses. Defense may win championships, but you have to put some points on the board.

Conversely, a high tempo team may put 48 points on the board but if it surrenders 54, it’s moot. Arizona learned that today. Points may be exciting, but championships aren’t won on offense alone. There’s a reason no Pac-10/12 program has won a BCS championship since 2004 (spare me your technicalities). The 2004 Trojans put points on the board with a bevy of offensive talent, sure, but USC also boasted some of the best defensive talent in the country.

So which is better? Both are.