Game of the Week:
1 ALABAMA (8-0)
@
3 LSU (7-1)
The game of the week and perhaps game of the year takes place a bit later today in Baton Rouge when the #3 Tigers welcome #1 Alabama to Tiger Stadium for a showdown that will most likely determine the SEC West Division and have a direct impact on the CFP.
Alabama comes in led by their uber-talented QB in sophomore Tua Tagovailoa, who is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy to this point. Remarkably, the youngster has yet to throw a single interception through 8 games, and is the focal point for this potent Bama offense. The Crimson Tide 'roll' into Baton Rouge with an incredible average margin of victory of 38 pts per game on the season. However, Bama has yet to face a defense anywhere near as good as or as talented as LSU's. Through 8 games, the Tide has only played two teams with winning records, albeit they demolished both of them (Ole Miss and Texas A&M).
On the other hand, LSU comes into this one plenty battle-tested as they have faced the toughest schedule to this point in the season out of anyone. They have already amassed 6 wins over teams with winning records, including an impressive 20-point route of Georgia a couple of weeks ago. That being said, the Tigers have yet to face a QB-WR duo as talented and as dominant as Bama's Tagovailoa and WR Jerry Jeudy, who's already produced 777 receiving yards and 10 TDs. It should be a true test for both squads and a heck of a ball game between two, super-talented, athletic, and physical teams.
We've got you covered with all the info you'd want to know about both teams below, including resumes and stat leaders on both sides of the ball:
Alabama -
Key Wins:
@ Ole Miss (5-3) W 62-7
vs Texas A&M (5-3) W 45-23
Key Losses -
None
LSU -
Key Wins:
Miami FL (5-3) W 33-17
vs Louisiana Tech (6-2) W 38-21
@ Auburn (5-3) W 22-21
vs Ole Miss (5-3) W 45-16
vs Georgia (7-1) W 36-16
vs Mississippi St. (5-3) W 19-3
Key Losses -
@ Florida (6-2) L 19-27
Statistical Leaders:
ALABAMA
QB Tua Tagovailoa
2066 pass yds 25TD/0INT; 70.4 comp%; 238.8 rating
(123 rush yds 2 rush TD)
Najee Harris 489 rush yds, 4TD
Damien Harris 435 rush yds, 5TD
Brian Robinson Jr. 241 rush yds, 1TD
Joshua Jacobs 267 rush yds, 8TD
Jerry Jeudy 31 rec, 777 rec yds, 10TD
Henry Ruggs III 24 rec, 444 rec yds, 7TD
Isaiah Buggs 27 tot tkls, 9.0FL, 8.0sks, 2FF, 1FR
LSU
QB Joe Burrow
1544 pass yds 6TD/3INT; 53.8 comp%; 118.2 rating
(250 rush yds, 4 rush TD)
Nick Brossette 697 rush yds, 10TD
Clyde Edwards-Helaire 521 rush yds, 5TD
Justin Jefferson 30 rec, 471 rec yds, 2TD
Devin White 76 tot tkls, 7.0FL, 1.0sk, 1FF, 2FR
Grant Delpit 54 tot tkls, 8.5FL, 4.0sks, 5INT, 1FF
Jacob Phillips 53 tot tkls, 3.0FL, 1INT, 1TD
Michael Divinity Jr. 34 tot tkls, 7.0FL, 4.0sks, 1INT
Look for a lower-scoring game than we are used to seeing with these two teams, with both defenses looking to assert themselves and control the game early. LSU's best recipe for a win will be to turn out long, time-consuming drives to try and keep momentum and keep Alabama's talented weapons on the sideline for as much as possible. The Crimson Tide will want to impose their will early, just like they have all season long, the last thing they want is a tight, closely contested battle in the 4th quarter, where the raucous crowd can become a factor. It should be a dandy of a ball game, I see a close game right up until the end, that realistically could go either way - 27-24 a FG is the difference. Enjoy the game!
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