Published November 4, 2010 - 5:30am
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This weekend #10 LSU hosts #6 Alabama under the lights in Death Valley. The LSU Tigers have looked good in some wins and bad in others, but they seem to match up with the Crimson Tide particularly well, in the midst of all of the buzz about the Iron Bowl in a few weeks. Alabama has to get through LSU first, and they will have to do it in the toughest place to play in the conference – possibly the country.
Both defenses are good, and both rely on their running game to eat up yardage and keep the football in their possession. Alabama has more of the star players and the names you know, but LSU has a lot of talent – they just have trouble getting them the football because of their weak quarterback play.
For Alabama To Be Effective
Alabama has experience, they have a week of rest and they have Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to pound the rock. LSU is pretty stout against the run – minus Auburn – and the Tide could have a tough time running on the Tigers. Quarterback Greg McElroy will have to be on his game if LSU plays a run-heavy defense. If LSU can slow down the running game, Alabama will have to step up their passing game. McElroy has taken some heat this year but manages the offense effectively. He’s not a dominant player, but he has experience and is a winner. He will have to get the football to Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks in the passing game to loosen up the Tiger defense. Richardson and Ingram are used very effective in screen situations as well, as both backs can catch the football out of the backfield. Alabama will have to establish the run because we all remember what happened when they could not get it going against South Carolina. Their defense will be solid and should keep LSU’s scoring down.
For LSU To Be Effective
LSU has a ton of playmakers on their football team. They do, however, have trouble getting them the football. Receivers Terrence Tolliver, Russell Sheppard and Rueben Randle are talented, but they can only be effective if they get the ball. Running backs Stevan Ridley and Michael Ford are pounders, not really game breakers, but they are effective running the football. Quarterback play has been a struggle all year for the Tigers. Quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee have been mildly effective at times and terrible at others. Jefferson will be used as the running quarterback and Lee the passing quarterback – just like they have shown all year. If you are Les Miles, you cannot afford to let these quarterbacks beat you, but you have to have confidence in them at the same time. The LSU defense has to be a focal point for this one. If LSU can slow down Alabama’s run game, Patrick Peterson will be matched up against Julio Jones in the secondary. What more could you ask for to get Alabama in passing situations?
What Gives?
LSU matches up with Alabama on paper, but we all know the game is played on the field. Everyone is slightly overlooking this game and seemingly counting this as a win for the Tide. I think this will be a low-scoring, run-heavy football game. I think LSU will keep it close, but if they do not find a way to get their wide receivers / playmakers the football, they will be in trouble. Anytime there is a low-scoring game, either team can make a big play that can carry them the entire game.
Who do you think has the edge?
Dude, the game is at 2:30 in the afternoon. Unless you know something I don’t.
Both have very good Defense’s and both have a ton of talent, but Bama has Ingram, Richardson, Jones and Mcelroy and they have played together for last 2 yrs and LSU’s Offense has really struggled this year, with that been said, I believe Alabama will ROLL!! 31-14
LOL! If Auburn couldn’t get 31 I know darn well Alabama won’t. I’m being very patient. LSU will give Alabama a good game on the most part if the defense can stop the run and the offense acts like they’ve got a pulse. The defense has given up alot of yardage in two games this year. North Carolina in the passing game and Auburn in their last game. The defense has got to be solid. Alabama also has one of the best defenses in the country. I still believe Auburn is going to walk all over Alabama. Just a feeling I get. If LSU’s defense couldn’t stop him, neither can Alabama’s. If they do, the have the others in the backfield who run about as good as Cam does. If they do stop the run, he’ll beat them in the air like he did Ole Miss. Too bad really. If LSU’s offense even halfway clicked, noone in the country could beat them. I hope they finally get a quarterback and will fill the spots of the guys who are leaving after this season with good talent. They are amongst the best in the nation on recruiting players. The problem I have with Miles and Crowton is the fact that they do not utilize and make good of the talent they have. The situation at quarterback has killed LSU this year. With the defense they have, if they had an average offense, they would beat Oregon or anyone else in the country. However, that is not reality. We’ll just hope and see which offense shows up tomorrow. I do know Tiger fans are quite alarmed with the way the offense has been playing.
Well, Scott, you are obviously from LA. If Les Miles didn’t have that horsehoe up his butt, they wouldn’t even be ranked this year. LSU is the worst 7-1 team in the nation. But, they are 7-1 thanks to that horseshoe. They do have a good defense, but the offense is terrible. And the coaching is ridiculous. Bama has as good a D and much better O and the coaching, not in the same league. Bama wins, not under the lights since its a 2:30 game, but I’ll say by 10. Finally the horseshoe falls out for good.
This is a great game!