LSU Week Ten Preview: Alabama
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LSU (6-2) and Alabama (7-1) will be coming off of their annual bye week for a top ten clash in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. The winner between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide will be in the driver’s seat to claim the SEC West division crown for a trip to Atlanta to face the winner of the Georgia/Tennessee game that will decide the SEC East this weekend.
Alabama @ LSU Game Information:
Current Records: Alabama (7-1) @ LSU (6-2)
Date/Time: November 5th @ 6:00 p.m. CT
Where: Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA
Where to Watch: ESPN (Commentators: Play-By-Play Chris Fowler, Analyst Kirk Herbstreit, Reporter Holly Rowe)
Spread: Alabama (-13.5)
Alabama vs. LSU Series History:
Alabama leads the all-time series against LSU, 55-26-2, and currently holds a two-game winning streak over the Tigers. The Crimson Tide won last year’s matchup in Tuscaloosa, 20-14. The last meeting in Baton Rouge came during the 2020 season where Alabama cruised to a 55-17 victory over LSU.
Previewing LSU Heading into Week Ten:
The Tigers will be well-rested coming off the bye week and will be looking to carry momentum after they were last seen on the field with a 45-20 with over Ole Miss at home. LSU hasn’t beaten Alabama in Tiger Stadium since the 2010 season where the purple and gold edged out the Crimson Tide, 24-21.
LSU does have some key players on the injury report coming off of the bye week as Jack Bech, Major Burns and Garrett Dellinger are all listed as questionable heading into the matchup against Alabama. It is expected that that Bech and Burns are going to be ready to go. Running back John Emery Jr. is the other notable Tiger that is listed as questionable with an achilles injury.
The Tigers have been able to find their groove as of late with the play of Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been effective all season on the ground, but he is starting to put it together in the passing game. Kayshon Boutte has been able to produce more in the receiving game as Daniels has been looking for the all-american more often.
Not only has the passing game found its rhythm, but the improvement week-by-week of the offensive line has opened up the production of the running game. It has been a running back by committee with Josh Williams and Armoni Goodwin leading the way.
On the defensive side, LSU had it’s best showing of the season in the second half against Ole Miss as they were able to shutdown a prolific Rebels offense. Ole Miss has trouble running the ball against the LSU defensive line.
Scouting LSU’s Opponent: Alabama
Alabama comes into Saturday’s matchup with a 7-1 record. Their one loss on the season came at the hands of No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville. The Crimson Tide has had their fair share of scares this season with close wins against Texas and Texas A&M.
Alabama had to grind out a victory at home against the Aggies with backup quarterback, Jalen Milroe. Milroe was able to get the job done to keep Alabama in the SEC West race. Since then, Bryce Young has continued to show why he won the Heisman trophy in 2021.
Not only has Young been a huge part of a high-powered Alabama offense, but Jahmyr Gibbs has been one of the best running backs in the country. Gibbs has the ability to beat you in the running game and in the receiving department. The Crimson Tide offense currently is averaging 43.1 points per game and gaining 485.1 total yards per game.
On the other side of the ball, the Alabama defense is only allowing 16.6 points per game. That includes the 52 points that they allowed against Tennessee. Alabama’s defense has only forced six turnovers and that currently ranks them 122nd in the country. There are storylines that come with the Crimson Tide defense as former Tiger, Eli Ricks, will face off against his former team.
Ricks hasn’t seen a whole lot of production with this Alabama defense, but he was able to see more of the field against Mississippi State. He should see more playing time this weekend against LSU. The Crimson Tide defense allows just 295.3 total yards per game.
Prediction for Alabama @ LSU:
LSU has struggled to pick up a win in Baton Rouge against Alabama as the Crimson Tide has dominated the series in the last decade. The Tigers in the majority of their SEC games have gotten out to a slow start. LSU was down 13-6 against Mississippi State, 17-0 to Auburn, 20-0 against Tennessee and 17-3 vs. Ole Miss.
The Tigers can’t afford a slow start against one of the best offenses in the country. LSU could desperately use a fast start to divert pressure away from their defense. The purple and gold have to be able to rely on a balanced attack on offense, or this game could turn upside down. In their wins in the SEC, the Tigers have been able to pose their will in the running game behind their offensive line.
This game is always won in the trenches and whichever offensive/defensive line can impose their dominance will come out on top. The matchup between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide will be a 60-minute battle as they will fight for 1st place in the SEC West. Alabama will edge out the Tigers on the road to stake their claim in the division.
Prediction: Alabama 34, LSU 24
-Tyler Eschette - Olde City Sports Network/ Sports Scramble, CFB C2C (College Football, Coast 2 Coast)
*Photo Credit: Getty Images*