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:

QB Tua Tagovailoa has amassed an incredible 25 TD passes to 0 INT on the season. Can the Tigers finally slow him and the potent Bama offense?

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

Tiger Stadium will be rocking tonight; traditionally the Tigers are extremely difficult to beat in home night games, but Alabama is anything but your regular old' opponent.

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

LSU has a battle-tested defense, will it be enough to hand the Crimson Tide their first loss?

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!