According to history, the outcome of tonight's presidential election will be like adding insult to injury for LSU football fans, at least the Republican ones.
That's right, the results are in - i.e., LSU's 17-21 loss to Alabama - and the Democrats will get four more years in the White House. So when President Barack Obama gives his victory speech later tonight, he should give a little shout-out to the Tigers for taking one for the nation Saturday.
Not convinced? Maybe this analysis posted last week by USA Today sports writer Paul Myerberg will change your mind:
Over the last seven elections, since 1984, an Alabama victory has preceded (or followed close behind) a Democratic victory. Conversely, an LSU win has meant the same for the Republican Party.
1984: LSU 16, Alabama 14. Ronald Reagan (R) demolishes Walter Mondale (D).
1988: LSU 19, Alabama 18. George H.W. Bush (R) defeats Michael Dukakis (D).
1992: Alabama 31, LSU 11. Bill Clinton (D) defeats George H.W. Bush (R).
1996: Alabama 26, LSU 0. Clinton (D) defeats Bob Dole (R).
2000: LSU 30, Alabama 28. George W. Bush (R) defeats Al Gore (D).
2004: LSU 26, Alabama 10. George W. Bush (R) defeats John Kerry (D).
2008: Alabama 27, LSU 21. Barack Obama (D) defeats John McCain (R).
Now, just to be fair and square, there is another sports history trend involving the Washington Redskins, which points to a win by Mitt Romney. Here's what Politico has to say about it:
Since the NFL's Redskins moved to Washington in 1937, the rule has held true: When the team won their pre-election home game, the candidate from the party that won the previous election's popular vote won the White House. When the Redskins lost, the candidate from that party lost.
It was true for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, when the Redskins beat the Steelers 37-10; it was true for then-Sen. Barack Obama in 2008, when the Redskins lost to the Steelers by 23 to 6; and it was true for every election in between. It was even true in 2004, when George W. Bush secured re-election after the Redskins lost to the Packers - because Al Gore had won the popular vote in 2000.
If the Redskins Rule holds true, Mitt Romney will win the election on Tuesday.
Luckily, the Washington Redskins and LSU/Alabama games aren't the only sports-related ways to predict who will win tonight's election.