The LSU Tigers (4-4, 2-3 SEC) clash with the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 SEC) in an SEC West rivalry contest on Saturday night. Both teams enter off bye weeks and will be rested and ready to go for one of the SEC’s premier annual matchups.
Saturday’s conference clash kicks off at 7 p.m. EST inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. Alabama is favored by 28.5-points, and the over-under total is at 67 points.
What to Know – LSU Tigers
LSU knows changes are coming in 2022; head coach Ed Orgeron is coaching out his last season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are depleted on offense and defense, with a rash of injuries keeping many key players off the field. Still, LSU has shown fight, defeating the Florida Gators at home as double-digit underdogs.
LSU averages 30.5 points and 382.0 yards of offense per game, and sophomore quarterback Max Johnson is a big reason for the Tigers’ offensive success. Johnson has thrown for over 2,000 yards, completing 61.4% of his passes with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
RB Tyrion Davis-Price is one of the leading rushers in the SEC, carrying the ball 120 times for 627 yards and six touchdowns. Davis-Price erupted for 287 yards and three touchdowns three weeks ago in the victory over Florida.
The Tigers are 2-4 against the spread in their last six games against Alabama. The total has gone under in six of the previous eight games against opponents from the SEC West.
What to Know – Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide won a pair of conference contests after a rare regular-season loss in College Station at the beginning of October. Alabama needs a victory here to control the SEC West race with Arkansas and Auburn left on the schedule.
Bryce Young might be a sophomore but plays the game like a redshirt senior. Young, who has a great chance to become Alabama’s next Heisman winner, has guided an Alabama offense that averages 45.9 points and 494.0 yards of offense per game. Young has thrown for 2,453 yards, 26 touchdowns, and three interceptions and added two rushing scores.
Young will pick apart LSU’s depleted defense, especially in the secondary where the Tigers are down their top two defensive backs. Look for Alabama’s wideouts and tight ends to have a field day on Saturday against the Tigers.
Alabama is 4-2 ATS in their last six games this season. The total has gone under in five of the previous seven contests against teams from the West division.
The Pick is In
Alabama has owned this rivalry series over the last five years and come into Saturday’s tilt as a four-touchdown favorite. If LSU wants to pull an upset as they did against Florida, the Tigers will have to run the ball and make plays defensively to slow down Alabama’s offense.
We just don’t see that happening. Young will pick apart the defense, and Alabama’s offense should score 40+. Like Tennessee, LSU gets a few scores, including a couple when the game is out of reach, to push this total over.
Betting Pick: Tigers/Crimson Tide OVER 67
