Pictured: Crimson Tide fans have rolled into the "Big Easy."

 
  "Everybody is interesting," Barron said. "Down on Bourbon Street they have all types of things. There's people dancing, having a good time. But it seems like it's a good place to be."

There's no place that No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama would rather be as they prepare to play for the second time this season in Monday night's Allstate BCS National Championship Game (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET) in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Both teams know there won't be anything easy about Monday night's game in the Big Easy.

"I'd expect it to be big-boy football," LSU coach Les Miles said. "And I'd expect it to be very, very physical."

New Orleans has never needed a reason to party, and Monday night's game is expected to bring as many as 100,000 fans to the city. The cheapest ticket available for the game on Stubhub.com on Sunday night had a price tag of about $1,200 each. Tickets have a face value of $350.

Throughout the French Quarter, musicians have added "Tiger Rag" and "Sweet Home Alabama" to their set lists. The Saints might be the city's home team, but New Orleans folks love their Tigers, too.

This is one party Alabama and LSU fans don't want to miss.

It seems only fitting that carnival officially kicked off Friday, because Alabama and LSU fans have turned the long weekend into a SEC coronation festival.

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Source: Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com