LSU vs. Alabama: Point Spread, Total & Prediction

The stakes will be high, the hits will be punishing and plentiful, and there might even be a few free football thrown in as a bonus. No amount of psychoanalysis or therapy or antidepressants can do for either senior what a win on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will do.

“Loud, for 60 minutes”. “You’re playing for all the things that you wanted to play for at the beginning of the year”.

More often than not, this one has lived up to the billing. The first College Football Playoff Rankings have both teams in the top four, with LSU at No. 2 and Alabama No. 4. LSU is second, Alabama fourth.

Alabama QB Jake Coker has been all but mistake free for several games. We considered Texas A&M as a possible death knell for Alabama’s SEC title hopes, only to see the reigning SEC champions coast by the Aggies once more. The message to the team is to play their best football, one play at at time. 35 before middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith and strong safety Jamal Adams chopped Henry down after a 4-yard gain when it looked like he was going to get a first down and a whole lot more.

Alabama comes in as the favorite, with one of the nation’s best defenses and an offense that has been able to do enough with star running back Derrick Henry, the SEC’s No. 2 rusher.

“It’s a banger for sure, ” LSU center Ethan Pocic said.

Fournette is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, having rushed 176 times for 1,352 yards (7.7 per carry) entering the stretch run of his sophomore season. Since being kept out of the end zone during last year’s game against LSU, Henry has run for 21 TDs. Arkansas’ Alex Collins needs 40 yards for his third 1,000-yard season, a feat accomplished in the program by only one other back, Darren McFadden. Something has to give. The defensive front seven better be ready for LSU’s bruising rushing attack which has averaged 299.0 yards on the ground over its past five games. Alabama allows just 2.6 YPC and has a physical 3-4 defense fronted by NT Darren Lake, DE Jarran Reed and DE A’Shawn Robinson. “He’s doing a great job, preparing himself for this game, the atmosphere of the game”.

Make friends: Tigers can chat up the game over at And the Valley Shook, while Tide fans can do the same at Roll Bama Roll.

WR, Malachi Dupree (LSU): This talented receiver took all five official visits in a two week period, including visits to LSU and Alabama in a three-day period. LSU safety Jalen Mills was asked that question.

“I was really proud of our team – the way they competed in the game today, they really did everything we ask them to do. We want to win the national championship and us coming out with a win this week would be big”.

Alabama’s dominance on both sides of the ball helped the team prove its ranking was just. Miles doesn’t think it’s much advantage.

“It’s going to be fun”, Tide quarterback Jacob Coker said.