The Alabama Crimson Tide have received the first line for their game against the LSU Tigers and are considered three-point favorites.
The Crimson Tide have had an interesting first season without the guidance from legendary coach Nick Saban. Despite the criticism, new coach Kalen DeBoer has been doing a solid job leading the Crimson Tide through a new chapter. Currently the Crimson Tide are preparing for arguably the biggest remaining game on the schedule against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.
Tiger Stadium, or “Death Valley” as it has been dubbed by LSU fans is a notoriously difficult place to play, and one the Crimson Tide have not enjoyed playing in. Both teams hold a 6-2 record, with the Alabama Crimson Tide holding an extra conference loss. The LSU Tigers will have plenty of recruits in attendance for a game that could decide the fate of each team moving forward.
Alabama has not lost three games during the regular season since 2010 when the team went 10-3 and still won the Capital One Bowl. The Crimson Tide finished that season with the tenth-best ranking in the country, theoretically placing the team in a modern day position to contend for the College Football Playoff. Losing would not be the worst for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but would indeed bring the team back into unfamiliar ground.
Unlike DeBoer, Saban lost three games after going 14-0 and winning the BCS National Championship the season before. Saban also inherited a team that had gone 34-27 the previous five season, and transformed the Alabama Crimson Tide into a championship caliber team. DeBoer, however, has faced heavy criticism due to the talent the team had to offer upon his hiring.
Can the Alabama Crimson Tide Avoid a Third Loss Against the LSU Tigers?
With the Alabama Crimson Tide entering the game as three-point favorites, the LSU Tigers will be placed in a corner heading into the game.
Both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers have their backs against the wall as each ranked team needs a win to get back into a top ranking. However, the other team will have to fight through the remainder of the schedule just to hold onto a ranking.
Alabama has been a very pass dominant team this season, but may have a few running lanes against the LSU Tigers. Star linebacker Harold Perkins suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago and linebacker Whit Weeks has stepped into the starting role. Weeks is an excellent run stopper when he is able to read the play, but pre-snap motion however has been an issue for the Tigers this season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide need to keep the LSU defense on their toes and the easiest way will be by deploying a balanced attack. The Tigers struggle to read options and motion thoroughly, and running quarterbacks in particular have been an achilles heel for the defense.
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