No. 2 LSU vs. No. 4 Alabama isn't just a matchup of geographic convenience. It's also the most impactful rivalry in college football, and 2015's edition of Crimson Tide vs. Tiger is no different. Saturday's showdown (8 p.m. ET, CBS) between these SEC West behemoths will feature a Heisman frontrunner, the country's fourth-ranked defense and a victor who will have the inside track on a College Football Playoff berth. So how hyped is LSU for this game? So hyped.
Everything you need to know about No. 2 LSU at No. 4 Alabama: previews, advanced stats, & more
No. 2 LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to face off with No. 4 Alabama on Saturday ( 8 p.m. ET, CBS, streaming at CBSSports.com), and a trip to the College Football Playoff may be on the line.
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There’s enough coverage of Saturday’s game to exhaust the nation’s supply of digital ink, but that’s what this weekend’s SEC-defining clash was made for. We’ve got no shortage of previews for LSU-Alabama, covering everything from advanced statistics to hype videos and Macho Man Randy Savage promos on the subject.
Bill Connelly put Saturday's game in its proper historical context, then delivered his advanced statistical analysis of where the two teams stand after nine weeks of 2015 football. Can Leonard Fournette break through an Alabama defense that has been one of the top three run stoppers in the nation?
Roll ‘Bama Roll took a closer look and found that LSU has the edge on offense, Alabama has the advantage on defense, and home field may not be the blessing it’s been made out to be.
| OVERALL QUALITY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA | LSU | THE EDGE | |||
| F/+ | 54.7% (2) | F/+ | 49.2% (3) | PUSH | |
| FPI | 22.6 (6) | FPI | 22.1 (8) | PUSH | |
| FEI | 0.255 (3) | FEI | 0.254 (4) | PUSH | |
| S&P+ | 22.9 (2) | S&P+ | 19.0 (6) | PUSH | |
| Home Spread | -6.5 | ALABAMA | |||
(Bold) numbers indicate national ranking.
Statistics current as of November 4th, 2015.
And The Valley Shook took a look at the 2015 stats as well. The LSU hub concluded that Alabama's best plan of attack is through the air, despite middling returns from quarterback Jake Coker.
Sports bettors like the Crimson Tide. Alabama is a 6.5-point home favorite over the undefeated Tigers. With an over/under of 48.5 points, gamblers have set Saturday’s expected outcome at a 27.5-21 ‘Bama win.
That Tiger defense is filled with heavy hitters, including future NFL talents Kendell Beckwith, Tre'Davious White, and Jalen Mills. However, injuries will give the Alabama offense some key opportunities to move the ball through the air if Derrick Henry can't find space early on.
Of course, statistics don't tell the whole story, so ATVS turned to an expert to break down Saturday's game. RBR's Erik Evans discusses Alabama's injury concerns, offensive philosophy, and defensive success.
ATVS’s Billy Gomila returned the favor by addressing which Tiger players, non-Fournette category, need to step up on Saturday to retain LSU’s spot in the College Football Playoff.
There will be an X-factor for LSU fans listening to the broadcast at home. The program will be without the “Voice of the Tigers,” play-by-play announcer Jim Hawthorne on Saturday. Win or lose, irrational fans will find a way to blame Hawthorne’s absence for whatever bad things may happen.
But is LSU still hype?
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In fact, And The Valley Shook is so hyped that only the power of the Macho Man Randy Savage, descended from his throne in the heavens, could possibly cut a proper promo on the Crimson Tide.
Alabama and the Macho Man, we've been down the road before. Up and down the road and up and down the road and we're gonna go down it again one more time. You know I've always done my business STRAIGHT UP! FACE TO FACE! I don't politic, I don't go behind people's backs no, you always know where to find the Macho Man. But that's now how you operate is it, you gotta go talk to Jack Tunney and Greg Sankey to get what you want, well that's fine, the Macho Man will be waiting on Saturday.
Speaking of heroes, Leonard Fournette could enter Bryant-Denny Stadium as a tailback and leave as a legend with another otherworldly performance on Saturday. He’s only had seven of those so far this season.
If reading isn’t your thing, we’ve got podcasts, too. Here’s the Houndstooth Heroes breaking down Alabama’s chances to continue their roll towards the College Football Playoff.
and here’s the Geaux Show, where the Louisiana gentlemen from And The Valley Shook team up with Roll Bama Roll writer Erik Evans to break down Saturday’s clash.
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