PREMIUM
Rogers' Bama vs. LSU SPECTACULAR >> 5-0 Last Saturday!
(NCAAF) Alabama vs. LSU,
11/05/2016 4:00 PM, Score: 10 - 0
Point Spread: -7.00 | -115.00 Alabama (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -7.00 | -115.00 Alabama (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: To no one's surprise Alabama, the AP's No. 1-ranked team all season, earned the same ranking in the 1st CFP rankings of the 2016 season this past Tuesday. The Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 in the SEC West) had a bye last week and Saturday night travels to Baton Rogue to take on the 5-2 LSU Tigers (3-1 in the SEC-West.) LSU fired head coach Les Miles after a 2-2 start and are now 3-0 under Ed Orgeron, outscoring opponents 125-38 and found themselves at No. 13 in the first CFP rankings.
It is not quite the annual "Game of the Century" that it has been in recent years but it is still LSU and Alabama, and there still is quite a bit at stake. Alabama leads the series 50-25-5 and has won each of the past five meetings. However, in the past five games at Tiger Stadium, each team has scored a total of 103 points and two of those games went into overtime. The Crimson Tide won three of the five.
Alabama: No one questions Alabama's No. 1 ranking, as the Tide enters averaging 43.9 PPG (8th) on 498.0 YPG (17th), while allowing 14.9 PPG (4th) on 275.1 YPG (4th). Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has accounted for 20 TDs (11 passing, nine rushing), passing for 1,578 yards and running for 521 yards (5.5 YPC). Sophomore RB Damien Harris has a team-leading 697 rushing yards (8.1 YPC) for a unit which averages 268.4 (10th) on 6.0 YPC. The defense ranks 1st in rushing yards allowed (70.8 per) and the defense and special teams have accounted for 12 non-offensive TDs (nine on defense, three on punt returns).
LSU: The Tigers can tighten the race in the SEC West if they can upset the top-ranked Tide but LSU still a lot of regular-season work left after Alabama, with games against Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M in a 13-day stretch. A win would greatly bolster Ed Orgeron's case to be named the permanent successor to Miles and the good news is that All-America RB Leonard Fournette is the healthiest he has been all season. He had a record-setting performance against Ole Miss in the Tigers' most recent game (284 yards rushing) and like Alabama, LSU had last weekend off, as well. QB Etling is completing 64.5% for 232.0 YPG with four TDs and two INTs in three games under Orgeron but trading points with Alabama will be tough.
The pick: I just have no reason to go against Alabama in this price range, as Alabama's eight wins have come by an average margin of 24.1 PPG. I noted Alabama's No. 1-ranked rush defense earlier and will add that the Crimson Tide stymied Fournette in their 30-16 win last season, holding him to 31 yards on 19 rushes. Alabama has forced 16 turnovers this season with nine resulting in defensive TDs and its balanced offense (268.4 rushing YPG / 229.6 YPG) will give the LSU defense (ranked 5th in allowing just 15.0 PPG), its toughest test of the season. Alabama has won the past five meetings and makes it six in a row. Alabama is an 8* play.
It is not quite the annual "Game of the Century" that it has been in recent years but it is still LSU and Alabama, and there still is quite a bit at stake. Alabama leads the series 50-25-5 and has won each of the past five meetings. However, in the past five games at Tiger Stadium, each team has scored a total of 103 points and two of those games went into overtime. The Crimson Tide won three of the five.
Alabama: No one questions Alabama's No. 1 ranking, as the Tide enters averaging 43.9 PPG (8th) on 498.0 YPG (17th), while allowing 14.9 PPG (4th) on 275.1 YPG (4th). Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has accounted for 20 TDs (11 passing, nine rushing), passing for 1,578 yards and running for 521 yards (5.5 YPC). Sophomore RB Damien Harris has a team-leading 697 rushing yards (8.1 YPC) for a unit which averages 268.4 (10th) on 6.0 YPC. The defense ranks 1st in rushing yards allowed (70.8 per) and the defense and special teams have accounted for 12 non-offensive TDs (nine on defense, three on punt returns).
LSU: The Tigers can tighten the race in the SEC West if they can upset the top-ranked Tide but LSU still a lot of regular-season work left after Alabama, with games against Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M in a 13-day stretch. A win would greatly bolster Ed Orgeron's case to be named the permanent successor to Miles and the good news is that All-America RB Leonard Fournette is the healthiest he has been all season. He had a record-setting performance against Ole Miss in the Tigers' most recent game (284 yards rushing) and like Alabama, LSU had last weekend off, as well. QB Etling is completing 64.5% for 232.0 YPG with four TDs and two INTs in three games under Orgeron but trading points with Alabama will be tough.
The pick: I just have no reason to go against Alabama in this price range, as Alabama's eight wins have come by an average margin of 24.1 PPG. I noted Alabama's No. 1-ranked rush defense earlier and will add that the Crimson Tide stymied Fournette in their 30-16 win last season, holding him to 31 yards on 19 rushes. Alabama has forced 16 turnovers this season with nine resulting in defensive TDs and its balanced offense (268.4 rushing YPG / 229.6 YPG) will give the LSU defense (ranked 5th in allowing just 15.0 PPG), its toughest test of the season. Alabama has won the past five meetings and makes it six in a row. Alabama is an 8* play.
