I take it no one was surprised Sunday night when the BCS announced that No. 1 Alabama would take on No. 2 Texas for the national championship on Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.

Some were undoubtedly angry that TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State didn’t get a chance to claim the BCS crown. Especially with the way Texas beat Nebraska on Saturday, requiring every precious second to secure the Big 12 Championship.

But when Hunter Lawrence’s 46-yard field goal sneaked inside the left upright, everyone knew where Texas was headed. Heck, even ABC announcer Brent Musburger exclaimed, “Texas goes to Pasadena!”

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AP Photo: Lawrence is lifted by his teammates after converting the game-winning field goal

Does Texas belong? It seems somewhat pointless to cry for a playoff system. It’s like yearning for 80-degree sunny Kansas skies in January, or wishing for a sixth season of The Wire to be released. I can sit here all day and dream about how sweet it would be, but it’s just not going to happen.

So we’re left with what the BCS dishes out: Alabama vs. Texas. It’s the second straight year the Big 12 will do battle against the SEC for all the marbles.

The last time the two mega-conferences squared off in the BCS Championship, Florida handled Oklahoma, 24-14, in 2009. Before that, LSU knocked off Oklahoma, 21-14, in 2004.

It seems everywhere I look — Facebook statuses, Twitter feeds, KUSports.com comments, YouTube comments — the expectation is much the same:

Alabama’s gonna destroy/kill/pummel/manhandle/go all Gerard Butler in 300 on Texas.

It’s the trendy pick. Why? Alabama walloped Florida, 32-13, on Saturday, while Texas sneaked by Nebraska, 13-12.

Mark Ingram looked like a Heisman-worthy candidate and rushed for three touchdowns, while Colt McCoy looked overwhelmed and threw three interceptions.

If Texas can muster only 202 net yards against Nebraska’s defense, what will it do against the top-ranked Crimson Tide defense?

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AP Photo: UT’s Colt McCoy (12) is chased by Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh

Maybe the Horns have hit a wall on offense and their lack of a running game will come back to haunt them in January. They rushed for an inexcusable 18 yards against the Huskers on Saturday. Nebraska undoubtedly knew when Texas was passing the ball, as evidenced by the nine sacks piled up on McCoy.

Or maybe this Texas team is exactly the kind of squad the Big 12 needs to win a BCS Championship. Last year, Oklahoma went into the title with a juggernaut offense and somewhat of a suspect defense. No championship.

Maybe this Texas D, ranked first in the country in rushing defense, can neutralize the powerful, smash-mouth style of the Crimson Tide’s ground game. The Big 12 has won the national title semi-recently with a stout defense leading the way (Oklahoma in 2000, with a 13-2 victory over Florida State).

And it’s not like Alabama’s annihilated every team it has faced. The Crimson Tide saw close calls against Auburn (26-21) and Tennessee (12-10) along its path to the title.

My guess: The Texas defense will be too good to be blown out by Alabama.

As always, discuss.