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Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s annual rivalry between Alabama and LSU in Baton Rouge.
When: Today
Where: Baton Rouge, La.
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Current Line: Alabama (-6.5)
SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS
- It’s not ‘just another game’ … it’s Saban Bowl IX
- QB Blake Sims has the toughest task at Tiger Stadium
- Leonard Fournette’s biggest foe is friend Landon Collins
- Film study: Looking past LSU not a good idea for Crimson Tide
- Inside the numbers: Can the Tigers run it at Alabama?
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Players to watch:
- QB Blake Sims
- RB T.J. Yeldon
- RB Derrick Henry
- WR Amari Cooper
- LT Cam Robinson
- LB Xzavier Dickson
- LB Reggie Ragland
- CB Tony Brown
- S Landon Collins
Keys for Alabama:
- Establish the run. Each of Alabama’s top two running backs are averaging more than five yards per carry, but it’s time T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry have a breakout performance. This year’s new-look attack under Lane Kiffin has been dictated by Blake Sims’ success through more so than Alabama’s usual strength in the power run game. Henry’s scored touchdowns in back-to-back games and is the perfect bruising option in the second half against a winded front seven.
- Stop the run. Alabama’s done it all season and must continue its dominance in the trenches. LSU’s offense begins and ends with its three-headed rushing attack, the core of Les Miles’ tenure in Baton Rouge. The Tigers’ blue-collar approach has worked out well and if Leonard Fournette can slip through holes up front this evening, the Crimson Tide will face an uphill climb throughout.
- Avoid mistakes. It’s a generic angle, sure, but winning the turnover battle’s essential in a game pitting evenly-matched teams. A simple lost fumble — at any point — could alter the complexion of the game and swing momentum that may never be returned to its original owner. There’s the crowd factor too, a hungry bunch that feeds off others’ mistakes.
Alabama’s glaring weakness to watch: Turnover margin. For some reason, takeaways have been an issue with this year’s defense, a unit which ranks first overall in several other statistical categories. Alabama’s turnover margin of minus-2 is third-worst in the SEC ahead of South Carolina and Texas A&M. The art of playing keeping away in a matchup that could be decided by field position, LSU would have the edge.
Most interesting part of this game: Amari Cooper against LSU’s strong corners. The Tigers lead the SEC in pass defense and have given up just six passing touchdowns all season, tied with Ole Miss for the fewest in the conference and fourth nationally. Equipped with one of college football’s most dangerous weapons on the boundary in Cooper, Alabama must find creative ways in getting him the football if the Tigers play Tre’Davious White close to the line of scrimmage.
Team buzz: Just outside the CFP rankings’ final four, Alabama needs a quality win to pair up with a previous victory over West Virginia to sway the selection committee in its direction ahead of fourth-ranked Oregon. Tonight’s game is the first of three over the final four weeks against nationally-ranked teams including next week’s battle at home vs. top-ranked unbeaten Mississippi State.
LSU TIGERS
Players to watch:
- QB Anthony Jennings
- RB Leonard Fournette
- RB Terrence Magee
- RB Kenny Hilliard
- WR Travin Dural
- DE Danielle Hunter
- DT Quentin Thomas
- LB Kendell Beckwith
- LB Kwon Alexander
- CB Rashard Robinson
- S Jalen Collins
Keys for LSU:
- Pound the rock: LSU’s offense is as one-dimensional as it gets in the SEC. The Tigers run the ball and run it some more. Alabama’s defense is not going to be an easy nut to crack, leading the SEC in rushing yards allowed. If LSU is going to win this game, it’ll be because they were able to establish some semblance of a ground game. Expect Leonard Fournette and Terrence Magee to be used to keep Alabama on its toes early, with Kenny Hilliard and Darrel Williams bringing fresh legs later in the game.
- Disrupt Blake Sims: LSU’s defense has improved by leaps and bounds in recent weeks, and they’ll need to continue that improvement to knock off the Crimson Tide. Blake Sims has been lights out in home games, but has struggled a bit in road games during his first season as a starter. LSU has the tools to get him off his game, from a beastly pass rusher in Danielle Hunter to a talented secondary that can blanket the best of receiving corps.
- Tighten up the run defense: Opponents were able to run the ball all over the Tigers early in the season, and they allowed 600 yards on the ground combined in their two losses this season. Alabama is more than capable of getting rolling on the ground, but they’ve lost several key backfield members to injury, T.J. Yeldon could be limited today and the offensive line has been dealing with injuries all season. Kendell Beckwith and the rest of the front seven should be able to make some noise tonight.
LSU’s glaring weakness to watch: Throwing the ball. Anthony Jennings has been effective as a game-managing quarterback, but he hasn’t completed more than half of his passes in nearly two months. He’s shown a knack for making big throws when needed, but LSU could well need more than that this week against Alabama’s run defense.
Most interesting part of this game: Will LSU be able to win the battle on the ground? LSU’s offensive line has gelled together and has been dominating for the last several games, but they meet the best run defense in the conference tonight. Who wins that matchup will go a long way in determining who wins this game.
Team buzz: A month ago, LSU was dead in the water. Now, fans in Baton Rouge are looking at scenarios that would put the Tigers in the SEC Championship game. After slugging it out with Ole Miss two weeks ago, LSU looks like it has the tools to ruin another season in Death Valley.
