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Can LSU upset Alabama? Kirk Herbstreit weighs in on Tigers chances to shock the world
By Dave Hooker
Published:
Alabama is a heavy favorite to beat LSU Saturday. That doesn’t mean the Tigers should be completely counted out.
“Talking to LSU, they’ve not given up on the season,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on College GameDay. “They’re going to give everything they have. The key will be starting fast because this Alabama team is starting to hit a high gear offensively.”
That won’t be the only key for LSU to pull off a massive upset over Alabama, which is a 28-point favorite over the Tigers. Bama quarterback Bryce Young has shown off his ability to make plays by running the football recently whereas he was perhaps too determined to stay in the pocket earlier this season.
“Bryce Young is throwing but also we’ve seen him scrambling and being creative — something LSU needs to be concerned about today,” Herbstreit said.
Young is the No. 2 rated passer in the SEC, but that’s not the only concern for LSU. Alabama’s defense is fourth in points allowed per game and second in yards allowed per game in the SEC. That will be a challenge for LSU quarterback Max Johnson against an attacking Bama defense.
“They want to penetrate,” Herbstreit said. “They want to create negative plays. If they’re not able to do that, it could be a long day and then they gotta give their quarterback, Max Johnson, time to throw. He’s got young talent out there to throw to. Will he have the time to try to make plays one-on-one?”
We’ll all find out when LSU plays Alabama at 7 p.m. EST tonight.
Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South.
