Saturday, Nov. 5, I will be at my brother-in-law's man cave. The grill will be ready for some burgers and brats. Our favorite beverage will be in a cooler and the TV tuned into CBS.
The college-football version of Christmas will finally be here when the LSU Tigers travel to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the biggest game of the season.
Since late September, I have been pointing toward this matchup of the top two teams in the country. I strongly suggest every college football fan or NFL fan watch this game. Future pros will be all over the field for both teams. In fact, I have heard on various TV and radio programs that as many as 16 to 20 defensive players from both teams will be drafted.
Think about that for a second. That means nearly every starter on Alabama and LSU's defense is a future professional football player.
It shows if you look at the stats. Alabama is only allowing 180.5 yards per game, and LSU is only allowing 251.4 yards per game. The Crimson Tide only allows 6.9 points per game, and LSU is giving up only 11.5 points a game. And don't try to run on either team. Alabama gives up 26.9 yards on the ground, and LSU is allowing only 30.6 yards rushing.
If one of these defenses struggles, it would be in the passing game. LSU is allowing 174.8 passing yards per game. In an era of pass-happy offenses, Alabama allows 47.5 few passing yards a game at 135.6. Neither team is allowing many passing touchdowns; Both have allowed only four.
Rushing touchdowns are also hard to come by. Alabama has allowed only two rushing touchdowns, and LSU has allowed only five touchdowns on the ground. Rule changes have made nearly every offense explosive, and these two teams just shut down every offense.
Both teams have only been tested once. LSU won by 13 points against Mississippi State, and Alabama won by 16 points against Penn State. No other games have been close.
This game has other story lines, too.
LSU has faced adversity nearly every step of the way this season. Starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson was suspended for a bar fight before the Tigers opening game against Oregon. That meant LSU had to turn to Jarrett Lee at quarterback.
Lee had struggled in previous years under center but this year he has been outstanding, throwing for 1,250 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception. He's only being sacked just four times. That means Lee is making smart decisions with the football and not taking what defenses give him. Jefferson is back now and is getting snaps. Lee is more of pocket passer, while Jefferson can make plays with his legs and arm.
Can LSU continue to play two quarterbacks and win, or will it haunt them Saturday?
Speaking of Alabama, this season reminds me so much of the 2009-10 team. That team won with as strong defense, a Heisman contender at running back (eventual winner Mark Ingram) and a capable quarterback (Greg McElroy).
This season the defense is as good as that national championship team. Trent Richardson is the Heisman-contending running back, and AJ McCarron is playing game manager at quarterback. McCarron has thrown for 1,664 yards with 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions. For a first year starter in the SEC those are good numbers.
Alabama is also the most disciplined team. The Crimson Tide has only had 27 penalties, which is by far the best in the SEC.
It will be great watching the LSU defense try to contain Trent Richardson. Case in point: his touchdown run against Mississippi Oct. 15 at the midpoint of the third quarter. Richardson broke ankles, and several Mississippi defenders left laundry on the field (a nice way of saying they were faked out of their jock strap) on his way to a 76-yard touchdown run.
The game's wild card is LSU's Les Miles. No coach in college football is as unorthodox as the mad hatter. Miles eats grass from every field and will gamble on fourth down and special teams. While Alabama coach Nick Saban is more conventional, you never know what Miles will do. Miles struggles with clock management, and that is a major story line to watch, but at times it seems he has made a deal with the devil the way his gambles pay off.
This should be a good close game, and neither team should get much on offense. I will take Alabama to win this game but only because the Crimson Tide is at home. I will hope for a rematch in LSU's back yard in the national championship game.
Prediction: Alabama 17, LSU 13
Follow Bryan Flynn at http://www.jfpsports.com, Facebook and @jfpsports.
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