The one you’ve all been waiting for: the final bowl game pick of the 2012 season, and it’s the big one. The 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game has been anticipated for over a month and now, two storied programs will face off. Will the champion be the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the independent with national stature, or will the defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC win their third title in four years?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Alabama Crimson Tide | Monday, Jan. 7, 8pm ET | ALA -9.5 | ESPN

Notre Dame had some luck in getting to this game, but all teams that get this far need some. Alabama was likewise fortunate to be here with one loss to Texas A&M, then benefiting from several teams in front of them losing to quickly slide back up into prime title game position. Nevertheless, these are the two best teams in the country at present.

I have seen multiple games that both of these teams have played this season, and I base my selection off of my own observation, not stat comparisons or depth charts. The team I am choosing is the one that I think is ultimately more talented and, as they say, has “been there before.”

That would be Alabama.