Week 10 brings us what is arguably the biggest SEC matchup this season. At least in the West.
Both No. 4 Alabama (7-1, 4-1) and No. 2 LSU (7-0, 4-0) are in the Top 4 of the first CFP rankings, and the team that wins this Saturday will likely remain in the Top 4 throughout the season.
The Tide has won four in a row, including the BCS National Championship game in 2012, but it looks like LSU may be the stronger team this season. The Tigers are undefeated with few errors and a monster offense.
Alabama is favored by 6.5 over the Tigers, but there are a lot of players on both sides of the football who can affect the final outcome.
Here are the five Tide players to watch as Alabama faces LSU at home in Week 10:
1. RB Derrick Henry: The question of whether Henry is better than LSU RB Leonard Fournette has been swirling all season, and we’re finally going to find out the answer. Henry doesn’t have the same massive numbers as his LSU counterpart but he gets the job done, and he runs the ball with some scary physicality. “If I played defense, I wouldn’t want to tackle him,” Fournette said.
2. LB Reggie Ragland: Ragland is without a doubt a defensive beast. Earlier this week, he was named as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, but if Alabama hopes to stop Fournette and the LSU Tigers, he’ll need to remind us why he’s in the running for this award. Ragland has racked up 71 tackles, and he is the undisputed leader of the Tide defense. Alabama will need him to step up in a big way to lead it to a win over LSU.
3. QB Jake Coker: Coker has thrown 7 INTs this season — all at home — and just 11 TDs. He has been maturing and gaining confidence as a quarterback, but the key lies in whether or not he can keep the ball out of the Tigers’ hands. Coker needs to control the ball and play the kind of tough football he played at Texas A&M earlier this season. He needs to remind his teammates why they believe in him, and he has to make smart and accurate passes. It’s time for Coker to show us he can play great football in Bryant-Denny.
4. WR Calvin Ridley: The freshman has given Alabama what a lot of us didn’t expect: a follow up to former Tide WR Amari Cooper. Ridley is Coker’s favorite target, and we anticipate he’ll see a lot of action against LSU. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin should have plenty of plays up his sleeve for Ridley. Whether or not he can continue to perform this weekend against LSU will be key to a Crimson Tide victory.
5. S Eddie Jackson: Jackson’s hands are like magnets on defense. He has 5 INTs for 230 yards and 2 TDs. He suffered an ankle injury in the Week 8 game against Tennessee, but head coach Nick Saban said Jackson should be back against LSU. However, just being in the game may not be enough. Fournette is a force, but he’s also a distraction from the Tiger’s successful passing game, so the Tide will need Jackson to be at his best.
