Alabama vs. LSU reaction and highlights: Tide look impressive in dominating performance

Top-ranked Alabama hosted LSU in what was billed as perhaps the best game of the college football season. While the first half certainly lived up to that billing, the Crimson Tide pulled away in the second half, showing why they are back-to-back reigning national championship winners in a 38-17 win.

The first quarter was mostly uneventful on the offensive side of things, as Cade Foster’s 41-yard field goal was the only points-scoring play of the period. LSU turned the ball over two times, however, as the Alabama defense showed resilience -- especially in the red zone.

Alabama started to pull away in the third quarter, as the two teams traded scores -- a touchdown for the Tide and a field goal for the Tigers. The Tide scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, putting the game away and continuing their incredible run.

Brandon Larrabee at Team Speed Kills said that while Nick Saban brought out some trick plays (and even a smile!), Alabama still didn’t sway from their usual gameplan.

There were still some hallmarks of Nick Saban in this game. The Tide ran for 193 yards on 42 carries, allowing McCarron to stick to the methodical and efficient passing game (14-of-20, 179 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions) that he has mastered under Saban. Meanwhile, Alabama completely shut down the LSU ground game, limiting it to 43 yards on 31 carries. There were some sacks and other miscues, but LSU’s three leading rushers gained 74 yards on 23 carries -- which is better, but still not good enough.

Over at Roll Bama Roll, bammer called the Tide’s victory the most satisfactory since the 2011 national title game.

The ‘12 BCS title game brought a level of satisfaction (redemption against Notre Dame, two in a row, etc.) but in the end, it proved what we already knew- that Notre Dame didn’t belong and ‘Bama truly was king.

Even ‘13 Texas A&M left us all feeling unsatisfied. Previously, Alabama had never (as in, ever) given up that many yards against a single foe and I can’t remember the last time ‘Bama gave up 42 points.

Last night however, against a team in LSU that is nearly our mirror image, this Alabama football team put together it’s best performance of the season.

Paul Crewe at And the Valley Shook says perhaps the most disappointing thing for the Tigers is how well they actually played.

I’m sure a lot of the LSU fanbase will say we failed to “adjust.” I’m not sure how rooted in reality that sentiment actually is. LSU outplayed Alabama in the 1st half... and still trailed. That’s a problem. There’s no reason LSU shouldn’t have lead 7-0. There’s no reason LSU shouldn’t have lead at the half. But a pair of costly turnovers meant LSU played admirably well... and were still losing. When you move the ball as well as LSU did the first half, I’m not sure you enter half time and say, “Throw out the game plan! Let’s do something different!” You have every reason to believe it will continue to work.

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