Bama not going into LSU game to be conservative

No. 4 LSU (No. 2 College Football Playoff) at No. 7 Alabama (No. 4 CFP): The game between Western Division rivals has become must-see TV over the past several years and Saturday will be no exception. Howard and a few million college football fans pretty much know what to expect when Alabama and LSU meet on the football field.

Derrick Henry #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes against Jalen Mills #28 of the LSU Tigers during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Since Nick Saban’s first season coaching the Crimson Tide in 2007, the victor of the game has won the SEC West six times in eight years and won the SEC championship game five times. This Heisman frontrunner from New Orleans chose LSU over Alabama and has now rushed for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns in only seven games so far this year. Henry ran for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries during the Tide’s win over Texas A&M October 17th, including 153 yards on nine carries in the first quarter. Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC), which was No. 4, will likely move up to No. 2.

Florida struggled, but clinched the SEC East with a 7-6 victory over Vanderbilt. Mississippi State, who is now 7-2 overall and hosts Alabama next weekend in Starkville, is also moving quickly up the rankings while Ole Miss took a hit with a 53-52 overtime loss to Arkansas. “You’ve got to go out and show what you can do, be confident in what you can do”. It will be up to LSU’s defense to prevent Alabama’s offense from getting going. We always felt that if we beat LSU that we’re going to the national championship, going to the SEC championship because, at the time, we were the two best teams in our conference. LSU coach Les Miles has a 10-9 record after in-season open dates with the Tigers and Oklahoma State. “Henry is a big back, a great back, but we’ve got to rally around him”. The junior running back has 1,044 rushing yards this season with 14 touchdowns.

He carried the ball 10 times for 78 yards as Alabama ran out the clock to end the game. “We kind of broke down later, so we have to play better”.

Saban describes Henry as a “taller, longer” version of Fournette, adding that both players are incredibly competitive. He threw an interception on the first play of the second half that led to an Alabama touchdown three plays later.

“I’m very mad about that”, Henry said. The primary goals for the Tide offensively in this game, Kelly said, are maintaining possession of the ball, sustaining drives and keeping Alabama football’s defense off the field.

Jake Coker passed for 184 yards after completing 18-of-24 passes. They can sack with regularity, and this should continue against an Alabama team that has a vulnerable offensive line.

Defensive players on both teams are confident they have a good sense of what they’ll be up against this week because of their experience practicing against their own battering backs.