Henry’s 3 TDs lift No. 4 Alabama over No. 2 LSU

Every meeting between Alabama and LSU is built up to be one of the top games of the year. The sophomore running back leads the FBS in several major categories, and has yet to rush for less than 150 yards in a game this season.

With how willing the committee was to dismiss Alabama’s loss to Ole Miss, you would think it may have considered ranking Memphis higher based on their two-touchdown win over the Rebels. Despite Coker’s tossing that many picks, Alabama is still plus-three in turnover margin this year.

“Leonard Fournette is as dominant as any player in the country in terms of the way he plays and what he’s capable of doing”, Alabama coach Nick Saban said this week.

And LSU’s lines are good, stocked with five-star recruits of their own and coached by veterans.

On the other hand, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland is one of those rare defensive players who, at the college level, can seemingly make every play.

Jacob Coker has been serviceable at quarterback for Alabama, but he has also been turnover prone.

Remember all the wailing and consternation when the College Football Playoff Top 25 was released?

LSU is ranked number two in the nation thanks to an undefeated 7-0 record for the 2015 season. It was a physical, no-frills performance days after a few questioned the team’s No. 4 College Football Playoff ranking. The game does not have a set time at this time.

It’s a comparison that didn’t interest Henry.

Fournette didn’t get much help from the rest of the offense and the Tigers were outgained 434-182 in total yards. LSU came in averaging 309 rushing yards and finished with 54.

“Leonard is fast, quick, very competitive the way he runs the ball, plays with a lot of toughness”, Saban said.

Lynch most likely saw his darkhorse Heisman candidacy end with a quiet (by his standards) 26-of-42 night for 305 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“Our defense was on the field for the whole second half virtually”, Miles said. “We have to improve”.

“When they get big plays, they score lots of points, and when you have a good defense and good special teams like they have, it’s hard to make that up”. As for their offenses, there are again similarities, as both of these teams rely on great running backs to carry a majority of the load. Dupre is second in the SEC in yards per catch at 18.9; Dural is fifth with 17.8.

Henry and Fournette will battle it out in the biggest game of the year. “We did a good job of that”. “We consider ourselves a great team”, LSU offensive tackle Vadal Alexander said. “We have to rally”.

It’s also the type game where finesse pretty much goes out the window. The Tide will need to be careful against Dak Prescott who averages about 261 passing yards per game.

Two months later, Alabama beat LSU, 21-0, in a rematch for the BCS national championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Fournette’s hometown.

Alabama sustained a long drive to drain the clock from there.

Tide kicker Adam Griffith added a 29-yard field goal to make it 30-10 with 12:45 remaining. Saban initially sent out punter JK Scott, but reconsidered and called timeout.

Alabama didn’t let up from there. That’s sensible, but if LSU’s Brandon Harris has to attempt 35 passes, as I heard one radio analyst muse this week, the quality of his play may not matter.