LSU football will face Alabama on Saturday afternoon. Lane Kiffin's Tigers have a chance to earn a statement win, something LSU's resume needs. Despite being 6-2, LSU's record lacks a headline victory. LSU has lost to the two best teams it's faced, but that can change with a win over No. 5 Alabama.
LSU isn't used to being favored ahead of the Alabama game—Alabama has dominated this series. But this year, LSU is favored by 6.5, nearly a touchdown. LSU was favored by 3.5, and the line has slowly moved in LSU's favor throughout the week. The betting market is confident in the Tigers.
LSU has the talent to win this game. LSU made serious investments in this roster, and while the group took some time to gel, LSU looks like one of the best teams in the sport
right now. QB Sam Leavitt is playing the best football of his career, and the defense continues to be lights out.
Here are three reasons why LSU football will beat Alabama.
LSU will have better quarterback play
I think LSU's Sam Leavitt and Alabama QB Keelon Russell are both elite. Each offers something through the air and on the ground. That makes it hard for opposing defenses to game plan.
However, I think Leavitt has the edge in this game. For starters, Leavitt has the home-field advantage. The Tigers haven't lost at home this year, and we also saw Russell struggle on the road against an elite defense at Tennessee.
PFF grades Sam Leavitt as the No. 5 QB in the country with an offensive grade of 91.1. Leavitt's passing grade of 89.5 is up there, too. Leavitt is No. 2 in the SEC with 2,158 passing yards and No. 4 with a 70.1 completion percentage.
Yes, the turnovers have been an issue at times, but there's no denying that Leavitt is one of the top passers in the SEC. His arm can make all the throws, and he's settled into Kiffin's offense. Leavitt will play well enough for LSU to beat Alabama in Week 10.
LSU's front seven will make Keelon Russell uncomfortable
LSU's pass rush has the chops to make life hard for Alabama QB Keelon Russell. LSU's pass rush is elite, and Russell has been sacked 20 times. Only Byrum Brown and Arch Manning have been sacked more in the SEC.
It's hard to win games when you're taking sacks, and that will likely decide the matchup when Alabama's offense is on the field. If Russell is getting the ball out quickly, Alabama will find holes in LSU's defense. But if LSU can get to Russell and prevent the Tide from establishing a downfield passing attack, LSU's defense has the edge.
Alabama's offensive line is decent and much better than it was in 2025, but the Crimson Tide have given up a handful of sacks against the best defensive lines they've faced. Georgia and Tennessee combined for nine sacks against DeBoer's squad. LSU has a comparable defense to those teams.
LSU's pass-catching duo of Jackson Harris and Trey'Dez Green will shine
Entering the year, LSU's pass-catching group was a mystery. Trey'Dez Green was a known quantity at tight end and was projected to be one of the best TE's in the nation. But LSU lacked a true alpha wide receiver on the outside.
Green was injured in Week 3 and didn't return until the Auburn game. In Green's absence, LSU was forced to find other answers in the passing game. The solution was Jackson Harris. The Hawai'i transfer wideout has emerged as one of the SEC's top WRs, winning jump balls on the outside and making plays after the catch.
When LSU needs a big play, Leavitt looks for Harris. When Green was healthy, Harris was still finding his footing in the offense. Now that Green is back, and after the Auburn game to get back in the swing, this is the first time we'll see LSU's pass-catching corps in its final form -- a healthy Trey'Dez Green and a red-hot Jackson Harris.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Three reasons LSU football will beat Alabama in Week 10
