Those viral clips of Kalen DeBoer looking rattled at Tennessee? The Alabama coach says everyone had it wrong.
“I’m thinking about third down and 10,” DeBoer said of a sideline moment that exploded online after the Crimson Tide’s 26-10 loss.
But three weeks later, Alabama is preparing to enter another intimidating SEC environment at LSU. The Tide is pumping crowd noise into practice and emphasizing communication after Tennessee exposed an anemic offense at Neyland Stadium. DeBoer insists the viral moment wasn’t about the noise, but LSU will provide another chance for Alabama to show it can thrive when everything around it gets loud.
committee embarrassed itself
It'll also provide a chance to prove the College Football Playoff committee right. Alabama's No. 5 ranking was the real eyebrow-raiser on Tuesday's CFP reveal, considering the Crimson Tide is ranked No. 9 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and Tennessee was slotted in at No. 13 — a Vols team Bama lost to by 16 points.
Right behind Tennessee in the CFP rankings is LSU, and the Tigers are still looking for their first marquee win of the Lane Kiffin era. The Tigers' only wins over teams with winning records are Clemson (5-3) and Louisiana Tech (6-2).
Kiffin sees some “old Alabama” in the Crimson Tide, which is bad timing for LSU. The Tigers host Alabama in a rivalry showdown Saturday that could double as a CFP elimination game. LSU has little margin for error, and Kiffin says the Tide may be the most talented team his Tigers have faced this season.
So who wins on Saturday? Here's what you need to know for one of Week 10's marquee games, including predictions from USA TODAY Sports reporters and beat writers from the Tuscaloosa News and The Daily Advertiser (La.), part of the USA TODAY Network.
Alabama vs LSU football predictions: Experts pick who wins
USA TODAY Sports staff picks:
- John Brice: LSU
- Matt Hayes: LSU
- Jordan Mendoza: Alabama
- Paul Myerberg: LSU
- Erick Smith: Alabama
- Eddie Timanus: LSU
- Blake Toppmeyer: LSU
- Craig Meyer: Alabama 31, LSU 27
- Austin Curtright: LSU 33, Alabama 24
- John Leuzzi: Alabama 31, LSU 24
- Jordan Mendoza: Alabama 34, LSU 30
- LSU 35, Alabama 28: Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt was flat out bad in his first three games: He threw three touchdowns and five interceptions against Clemson, Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss. Since then, he has completed 75.4% of his passes and has vastly reduced his turnovers as he’s adjusted to coach Lane Kiffin’s system. Keelon Russell can get just as hot for the Crimson Tide. We just haven’t seen as much of that lately, so we’ll lean toward Leavitt and Co. here. — Adam Bittner, USA TODAY
- Alabama 24, LSU 21: The sportsbooks have LSU laying nearly a touchdown at home against Alabama. That means at a neutral site, LSU would be favored by roughly a field goal, so Las Vegas believes the Tigers are the better team. While LSU has played better of late, and I would anticipate Lane Kiffin dialing up some trickeration in this game, LSU hasn't beaten Alabama since 2022 and Kiffin historically has struggled against the Tide. Give me Alabama to win a close one inside Tiger Stadium Saturday. — Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser
Is LSU favored to beat Alabama? Spread, betting odds
(via BetMGM)
- Favorite: LSU by 6.5 points
- Over/under: 52.5 total points
- Moneyline: LSU -235; Alabama +195
Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers football: CFP rankings
Alabama is ranked No. 5 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, while LSU is ranked No. 14.
Will Ryan Coleman-Williams play vs LSU?
The Crimson Tide's standout receiver was listed as questionable on the SEC availability report Wednesday ahead of Saturday's game vs. LSU. Coleman-Williams (knee) has not played since the Georgia game. Per ESPN, he had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a meniscus injury. He was seen practicing on film released by Alabama ahead of LSU.
LSU-Alabama football injury report
ALABAMA
- Out: DL Jeremiah Beaman, LB Cayden Jones, DB Nick Sherman, LB Desmond Umeozulu
- Doubtful: QB Jett Thomalla
- Questionable: WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, DL Terrance Green, DB Zabien Brown, RB EJ Crowell, OL Racin Delgatty, RB AK Dear, OL William Sanders
LSU
- Out: S Dashawn Spears, WR Phillip Wright III, LB Charles Ross II, DT Richard Anderson
- Doubtful: LB Whit Weeks
- Questionable: LB Zach Weeks
What channel is LSU-Alabama football game on? How to watch, time, TV announcers
- Time: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
- TV: ABC
- Announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge (sideline)
Why is First Lady Melania Trump at Alabama-LSU football game?
First Lady Melania Trump is headed to Tiger Stadium for LSU football’s Nov. 7 showdown against Alabama. The visit coincides with a $5 million donation to establish a permanent scholarship fund for LSU students who have experienced foster care. The endowment is part of Trump’s Fostering the Future initiative, which will include a special announcement at LSU and campaign activations across campus and on the field during the Tigers’ rivalry game with Alabama.
LSU Tigers football schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. Clemson; W, 51-10
- Sept. 12: vs. Louisiana Tech; W, 45-14
- Sept. 19: at Ole Miss; L, 32-24
- Sept. 26: vs. Texas A&M; W, 35-6
- Oct. 3: vs. McNeese; W, 63-14
- Oct. 10: at Kentucky; L, 35-34, OT
- Oct. 17: vs. Mississippi State; W, 31-0
- Oct. 24: at Auburn; W, 38-17
- Nov. 7: vs. Alabama, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Nov. 14: vs Texas, TBD (ABC)
- Nov. 21: at Tennessee
- Nov. 28: at Arkansas
Alabama Crimson Tide football schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina; W, 48-10
- Sept. 12: vs. Kentucky; W, 45-17
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State; W, 50-36
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina; W, 49-18
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State; W, 56-23
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia; L, 20-17
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee; L, 26-10
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M; W, 31-20
- Nov. 7: at LSU, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt, 12:45 p.m. (SECN)
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga, 2 p.m. (SECN+)
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn
USA TODAY Network reporters Colin Gay (Tuscaloosa News) and Cory Diaz (The Daily Advertiser) contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama vs LSU predictions: Can Tide justify controversial CFP ranking?
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