It’s the big one this Saturday. LSU versus Alabama. Coach O vs the Nicktator. Joe Burrow vs Tua Tagovailoa.
Let’s get going with the preview!
Last Time Out:
Both teams are coming off of a much-needed bye week and each of those games tell a different story. You look at LSU’s previous ballgame, they pushed through a rough offensive performance to come away with a 19-3 win over Mississppi State. The Crimson Tide on the other hand dominated the Volunteers from the opening kick with a 58-21 win over the Tennessee Volunteers.
Last Meeting:
The last time these two teams faced off, Alabama came away with a 24-10 win over the Tigers. The Tide holds a distinct advantage in the overall series 52-25-5 and have won the previous seven matchups dating back to the 2012 national title game.
Storylines to Watch:
Big Performance From DBU Needed
Tua Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide offense has been incredible this season and one of the big reasons why is Jerry Jeudy. The sophomore has had a great 2018 season with 777 yards and 10 touchdowns off of only 31 receptions.
The battle between Jeudy and Greedy Williams will tell you a lot about how this game turns out. If you see Williams get torched on a couple of plays, this is going to be a long night inside of Death Valley.
White Out for First Half
Obviously this is going to be the biggest storyline that is going to be talked about and for good reason. Being without Devin White for any extended period of time is not ideal for the Tigers. Look back at the drive against Florida when White wasn’t on the field due to defensive rotation. The Gators offense came alive and that was a big reason for The Swamp coming alive and that may have been the true turning point of that ballgame.
Obviously, it will be Patrick Queen and Micah Baskerville taking the bulk of the snaps while White serves his sentence on Saturday for what was a controversial targeting call two weeks ago. Jacob Phillips will need to take the reins as the defensive leader for this team for the first half and based off what we’ve seen from him this season, he’s been able to do just that and come up with huge plays that helped set the tone for the ballgame.
Establish Dominance Early
Speaking of being without the heart and soul of the defense, you’ll need to establish dominance without him and to do that, you need Joe Burrow and this offense bring the fight to them. You have an offense try and play the time of possession game on Saturday, that’s not going to end well for a team that is looking to establish their footing for the College Football.
I’m not saying unload the “special playbook” on the opening drive, just get points on the board in the first half and watch that crowd explode when Devin White comes out of the tunnel to start the second half.
LSU Will Win If:
The Tigers can pull off the huge upset on Saturday if they can bring the fight to Alabama from the jump. This is the toughest challenge for both teams all season long and LSU needs to come out of the gates swinging. Alabama hasn’t trailed all year long and if you can punch them in the mouth with an early touchdown, it could be a fun night inside Death Valley.
Alabama Will Win If:
The Crimson TIde can come away with the win on Saturday if they can win the turnover battle. It sounds like such a cliche thing to say, but LSU’s offensive line is going to be tested and Burrow might be under pressure for much of Saturday night with the vaunted defense that Alabama has. The former Buckeye won’t be scared of their front seven, but you have to think that he’s bound to make a crucial mistake under pressure before the night comes to an end.
-Clint Domingue