The nation will be watching Saturday night as No. 1 Alabama travels down to Baton Rouge to face the No. 3 team in the nation in front of the LSU faithful. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS at 7 p.m. CT but the game arrives, every analyst in the country is going to be giving their thoughts on the game.

During the latest Herbstreit & Fitzsimmons ESPN college football podcast, College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit offered his thoughts on the big game.

“LSU at night against Alabama in Baton Rouge, even when (the Tigers) don’t win, the games go late into the fourth quarter, they always are,” Herbstreit said. “Will this year be any different? This Alabama team comes in with unprecedented execution on offense with Tua. Both teams have had a few weeks to get ready. Dave Aranda is one of the better defensive coordinators, does an outstanding job with this LSU team as we’ve seen, in person a few times. Devin White being out for the first half is a significant blow. How big of a deal it is to take their dynamic leader and playmaker out of the middle of that defense?”

While Herbstreit has obviously been impressed with Heisman Trophy frontrunner Tua Tagovailoa this season, he notes the Alabama quarterback will be walking into a game unlike any other in his young career.

“I know the emotion, the crowd, Tua has never seen anything like this,” Herbstreit continued. “Most people will say the Georgia game (in the National Championship). Yeah, it was pressure, it was a big stage, but it was also a neutral site. This is different. This is Death Valley. I’m not saying he can’t do it, if anything, you may see a better Tua in a game like this. I’m not doubting him but I’m saying if he goes into this atmosphere and balls, then whatever you thought about him… but if he does go in that atmosphere against the No. 3 team and plays well and that offense plays well, all that talk about inferior opponents is laid to rest.

“I can’t wait to see Tua and that offense against that LSU  defense and the passion with which they play with a big chip on their shoulder because the only way I see LSU wins is if they give their own offense a short field.

The GameDay host then broke down how LSU can make this a game and pull off a stunning upset on Saturday night.

“This is a game where Joe Burrow comes up with a few plays, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, this is the type of game he won’t back down,” he continued. “He’ll have a chance to make a few ‘wow’ moments on a scramble or make a play where he has a receiver one-on-one, maybe Jefferson, but it’s going to be hard for this offense to sustain long drives and go 70 and 80 yards on the night.

“They need explosive (plays) or short field to work with. I think LSU is the best in the country at turnovers as far as interceptions are concerned, they have to get pressure on Tua and give Joe Burrow a short field and they have to turn red zone trips into touchdowns and not field goals.”