LSU coaches, players and fans got excited about the possibility of playing in the Rose Bowl, simply because it's something the Tigers have never done. Yet, no one at LSU seems to be complaining about ending up in the Sugar Bowl instead.

"You could say there were some disappointment," junior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey said. "We were looking forward to possibly going to the Rose Bowl and seeing the west coast. We are still very fortunate to be in the situation we are in. Last year we didn't even get a BCS bowl so it's a great opportunity to show on a national level what we can do."

The fourth-ranked Tigers (10-2) will make a short trip from Baton Rouge, La., to New Orleans to play 11th-ranked Notre Dame on Jan. 3.

"I think everybody close to the program is certainly glad to see us playing in New Orleans," LSU coach Les Miles said. "We really enjoy that city. It's a wonderful place and we can hardly wait to get there."

Notre Dame has lost eight consecutive bowls and closed out its 2006 regular season with a 44-24 loss at USC, but the Tigers have to be concerned about their own business and handling all the possible distractions that come with playing in the Sugar Bowl.

The Tigers know all about the potential trouble that comes with the nightlife in New Orleans, but they also claim a certain sense of responsibility to a city that has endured so much hardship in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"We are doing this for the state," senior receiver Dwayne Bowe said. "After what Katrina did to this city, we are going to put on a show."

The Tigers will also spend considerable time during their bowl practices working with their best players against one another -- starters vs. starters -- instead of practicing against scout team players.

For LSU, the Sugar Bowl represents an opportunity to send 22 seniors out on a high note after they set four-year LSU records for home victories and total victories, but a chance to build toward the future with many recruits.

"It has tremendous implications," Miles said. "It's a national game. It's a game that has long-range implications. I think the impressions that can be made will be made for quite some time in what could be a voting public.

"I think when you go into a viewing audience's home in prime time and you represent LSU, certainly there would be a number of young men that are great prospects that'll say, 'Boy, I think it'd be great to play there,' and probably more than anything it's about finishing this year for a great group of seniors."

  TURNING POINT: After losing on the road at Auburn and Florida, LSU found itself in a similar situation at Tennessee on Nov. 4. The Tigers responded by rallying for a last-minute touchdown and a 28-24 win. They finished the regular season with six consecutive wins and a 10-2 record.

  BOWL HISTORY: All-time record -- 18-18-1; Last bowl appearance -- Peach Bowl, 2005, vs. Miami; won 40-3.

  MATCHUP TO WATCH: LSU QB JaMarcus Russell and WRs Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet against Notre Dame's secondary -- Notre Dame struggled to stop USC and Michigan's playmakers in the passing game and faces a similar challenge from LSU's offensive playmakers.

  PRO PROSPECTS: FS LaRon Landry -- Landry, a four-year starter, is generally regarded as one of the two or three best free safeties in the draft and is regarded as a potential first-round pick. Landry has the combination of size, speed and instincts to be a standout at the next level.

WR Dwayne Bowe -- He had some problems with drops in 2005 and sought help for vision correction. Once he took care of that he became a more solid, consistent receiver with 60 receptions and 11 TD catches this season. At 6-2, 220 pounds, Bowe is seen as one of the top five senior receivers in the draft and a likely second-round pick.

WR Craig Davis -- He isn't as physically impressive as Bowe, but Davis is a tough player and a tireless worker who learns quickly and does whatever he needs to do to get the job done. That should help him go as high as the third or fourth round.

SS Jessie Daniels -- Like Landry, he's a four-year starter. Unlike Landry, he's something of a one-dimensional player. He's a hitter against the run but often struggles in coverage, a concern that could drop him to the later rounds.

DE Chase Pittman -- A big-time prep prospect who got off to a slow start in college and later transferred from Texas to LSU, Pittman's stock is on the rise again. At 6-4, 272 pounds with a 4.84 time in the 40, he's now seen as a potential fourth-round pick.

  QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our team is looking forward to this game. You want to celebrate a great season with a quality opponent in a bowl game and Notre Dame offers just that. Anyway you cut it, Notre Dame is a great team." -- LSU coach Les Miles.

  GAME SNAPSHOT: LSU vs. Notre Dame, Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, Jan. 3 -- Despite two losses each, LSU and Notre Dame both earned spots in a BCS bowl that should have plenty of national appeal, especially with the presence of two super quarterbacks and their talented receivers. LSU will play in the Sugar Bowl for a school-record 13th time. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 5-4, dating to 1970, but the two teams haven't played since 1998, when Notre Dame won 39-26 at home. They also played in the Independence Bowl in 1997, LSU winning 23-9.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: For all the attention on one of the nation's top defenses, LSU's offense has also emerged as one of the nation's best, especially since the Tigers started doing a better job of running the ball down the stretch. The Tigers enter their bowl game ranked 11th in nation in scoring and 18th in total offense with 33.08 points and 404 yards per game. The combination of QB JaMarcus Russell and WRs Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis and Early Doucet give the Tigers some dangerous weapons.

  SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Tigers have stood tall among the nation's best defenses all season and enter the bowl game ranked sixth in scoring defense, second in total defense, third in pass efficiency defense and 15th against the run, allowing 12.5 points, 238 total yards and 93 rushing yards per game. They also lead the SEC with 30 sacks. The Tigers are especially tough up front and in the secondary, led by DT Glenn Dorsey and FS LaRon Landry.

  SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: K Colt David and P Chris Jackson have been solid this season, but neither one is much of an all-conference candidate. The Tigers have blocked two kicks, but the real difference-makers have been in the return game with Craig Davis and Trindon Holliday both returning kicks for touchdowns late in the season.

COACHING EDGE: Both coaches, Notre Dame's Charlie Weis and LSU's Les Miles, are in their second year at their respective programs. The difference between the two is that Miles has won more of his key games, going 8-4 against Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Miami, while Weis is 2-4 against Michigan, USC, Tennessee and Ohio State. LSU won its first bowl under Miles last year by dominating Miami 40-3 while Notre Dame lost its first bowl under Weis, losing 34-20 to Ohio State.

  INTANGIBLES: While LSU has won seven of its past nine bowl games, including last year's decisive win over Miami in the Peach Bowl, Notre Dame has lost eight consecutive bowl games by an average score of 16.5 points per game. The Tigers finished strong with six consecutive victories, including a 31-26 win at Arkansas, while Notre Dame ended its regular season with a 44-24 loss at USC.

  ROSTER REPORT: The Tigers are still running the ball by committee, but TB Keiland Williams, a true freshman, ran 13 times for 68 yards to lead the Tigers against Arkansas and has averaged 67 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry with three touchdowns over his past three games.

LSU coach Les Miles indicated he is doubtful offensive guard Will Arnold will be able to return from a late-season injury and play in the Sugar Bowl.

Senior tight end Keith Zinger, who has spent the season fighting an undisclosed stomach ailment, is out for the game but is eligible to play again next season after receiving a medical-circumstances redshirt for 2006, Miles said.

With the exception of Arnold and Zinger, Miles said everyone else is expected to be ready to go against Notre Dame.