College game of the week: Alabama vs LSU

It's going to be a tough athletic competition...

Since the first game of the season after LSU trounced National Championship finalists Oregon one fixture has really stood out for many on the calendar. The visit of Les Miles and his LSU Tigers to the Bryant-Denny stadium to take on Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide is considered by many to be the national championship game this season.

It is a shame that these two teams won’t meet in the big game as they are the out and out best teams in College Football this season, but that is the nature of the archaic BCS system and the subject of a whole different article.

In being number one and two in the BCS rankings Alabama and LSU share a number of similarities. They are both led by head coaches that have won national championships (Saban has won two, one with LSU in 2003). Saban is the more experienced Belichikian style of coach with NFL experience to his benefit and his team reflects his disciplined and aggressive style. Les Miles replaced Saban after the former left LSU in 2005. He can have moments of pure madness and utter genius during a game, but is never afraid to call a play that could flip the game on its head.

Trent Richardson, so good he can fly.

Both offences have a heavy emphasis on the run game with 404 passing attempts and 666 rushing attempts, so do not expect a high tempo passing game. Alabama’s offence is led by Heisman candidate Trent Richardson who already has 18 TD’s on the season. LSU have a trifecta of backs to lead their strong rushing attack as well as rushing QB Jordan Jefferson, who will spot for the more prototypical pocket passer Jarrett Lee.

The two teams also share elite defences that have stifled opponents through 8 games, with LSU holding opponents to an average 10.6 points per game and ‘Bama to 6.8 points per game. Both defences feature playmakers in multiple positions with Linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw handing out punishment along with safety Mark Barron. For LSU Tyrann Mathieu is a huge playmaker along with pass rushers Barkevious Mingo (what a name...) and Sam Montgomery.

That awkward moment when you realise you're going to get murdered by two massive LSU defenders

After a bye week which has done nothing but intensify the buzz around this game and with the intense rivalry between the two teams, expect a hard hitting smash mouth style game decided by each team’s defensive play. There is little to separate the teams, but the extra experience and talent on the Alabama team may give them the edge over LSU.

Dbl Coverage Prediction: Alabama by 3