Game Notes:
Time and Date: Saturday, November 7 at 2:30 p.m. CT
Network: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge)
Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network (Chris Blair, Jacob Hester, Gordy Rush)
Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Spread: LSU -6 O/U 52.5
ESPN FPI: LSU 57% chance of winning
All-Time: Alabama leads 58-27-5 (final annual meeting since 1964)
The Big One
This is the game that is circled on the schedule every year. There’s a big rivalry between Bama and LSU that sprung to a whole new level in
2007 when Nick Saban returned to the college ranks with the Tide just two years after leaving LSU. Since then, they have kept each other out of the national championship and even played for one against each other in 2011. However, this is the final time they will meet annually as it has been a yearly tradition for 60+ years.
Run Game is Key
LSU comes into this contest needing to get a bit better at running the football, ranking 29th nationally in rushing with 192 yards per game. However, on the defensive side, the Tigers are top 10 nationally in run stopping while the Tide are 75th in rushing offense. That is an area that the Bayou Bengals should be able to exploit on Saturday in a major matchup for the College Football Playoff rankings.
Pressure on Russell
Alabama comes into this contest with a very talented redshirt freshman quarterback named Keelon Russell. While talented, Russell has never been the starting quarterback in Death Valley. For LSU and Blake Baker, the Tigers need to get pressure on him early, make him uncomfortable, and force him into mistakes. It has shown throughout the season that Bama struggles if Russell makes early mistakes.
