This is a 10* SEC TOM on the UNDER LSU/Alabama.

If you've followed me for any length of time, then you know that I'm a situational handicapper. I'm also contrarian.

I base my picks on many different things. I don't find that I'm very good at individual player assessment, but rather I'm better at looking at a team as a "whole." If a player is absent, then that absence is reflected in the line.

And so I love betting the regular season, and I love betting "situations." And I love betting against lop-sided trends and numbers, and to say that each of these teams to this point has played to a lot of high-scoring games this season would be an understatement of epic proportions.

6-2 LSU has so far seen the total go OVER the number in all eight games, while Alabama has seen the total eclipse the posted number in six of eight games.

The last time these teams met?! The total went OVER the number of course in LSU's 32-31 OT win at home last November as a 13.5-point underdog.

Each side is already eligible, but there are big conference implications on the line here.

Either way, the overall situation points to a much more defensive affair this time around in my opinion.

This number is high, the play is the UNDER.

(more analysis available.)

Good luck, NP