LSU vs. Alabama: Previewing the Game of the Year

The mega-matchup is set.

After taking care of business this past weekend, No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama are ready to clash in what is sure to be one of the most hyped and talked about regular season college football games in decades.  

Some are already prematurely calling it the “Game of the Century," and while we’ll have to wait and see if it actually lives up to that billing, this one has all the ingredients to be a classic.

These are two of the most talented defenses we’ve seen in the college ranks in quite some time and the talent on display Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa is going to be quite extraordinary.

With so many future pros lining up all over the field, LSU and Alabama both look like NFL JV teams this year, and you won't be able to find two other squads in the country that are more evenly matched.

The countdown to Nov. 5 has already begun, so here’s an early preview of what to expect in Tuscaloosa in the SEC West battle for bragging rights. 

The LSU Offense

While you can’t exactly call the LSU offense a juggernaut, you have to give credit to the Tigers for being one of the most efficient and balanced units in the country.

Behind the two-quarterback system of Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson and a powerful run game, LSU ranks 15th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 39.3 points per game.

Lee and Jefferson don’t lead an explosive passing attack, as the LSU offense has only been averaging 183 yards through the air per game, but it’s certainly been good enough to get the job done.

The fact that the Tigers have only tossed one interception this year is also a huge factor for their success.

The running game, which averages 189 yards per game, has been very reliable, and LSU proved this past week that its stable of backs runs deeper than just leading rusher Spencer Ware.

Guys like Michael Ford, who is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard and Terrence McGee can all come in, tote the rock and pound away at a defense.

They all usually have plenty of running room behind a strong and experienced offensive line that includes four players that will be in the running to earn all-conference honors at the end of the season: RT Alex Hurst, RG Will Blackwell, C P.J. Lonergan and LG T-Bob Hebert.

On the outside, the receiving corps is led by two explosive former 5-star recruits in Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, and a young freshman sensation, Odell Beckham Jr., who is already making quite a name for himself.

This is the season that Randle has finally met his potential. The 6’4’’ 205-pound junior has hauled in 33 passes for 638 yards (19.3 yards per catch) and scored seven touchdowns.

In all, LSU’s offense may not be spectacular, but they're solid nonetheless. The Tigers average 5.6 yards per play, they convert 46 percent of their third downs and they’ve only allowed seven sacks the entire season.

It should be a treat to see what they can do against Alabama’s tenacious defense.

The LSU Defense

It’s no secret that LSU has relied on its extremely talented and athletic defense to lead the team to success this year.

The Tigers rank third in the country in both scoring defense and total defense, giving up an average of just 11.5 points and 251 yards per game.

LSU is strong on all three levels and it’s truly hard to find many weaknesses on this defense.

The Tigers are an absolute nightmare to deal with up front.

The defensive line is led by a defensive end group that is the deepest in the country, with Kendrick Adams, Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, Lavar Edwards and Jemauria Rasco all capable of making an impact at any given time.

Inside, sophomore defensive tackle Michael Brockers is developing into one of the top interior forces in college football and he’s starting to look like he could become this year’s version of former Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

Brockers is joined by Bennie Logan, who is capable of causing plenty of havoc himself, and emerging freshman Anthony Johnson, a former blue-chip recruit who has looked as good as advertised so far.

The linebacker crew misses the presence of last year’s leader Kelvin Sheppard, but there are some experienced players like seniors Ryan Baker, Karnell Hatcher and Stefoin Francois, who play tough and physical while still managing to stay fundamentally sound.

The two linebackers to really watch, though, are sophomores Kevin Winter and Tahj Jones, who both look like they will eventually develop into premier defenders in the SEC.

LSU’s secondary hasn’t missed a beat since losing superstar corner Patrick Peterson, as both Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu have stepped up to become impact players this season.

Mathieu has been college football’s star defender so far, and before last week’s suspension, he was considered to be a Heisman dark horse candidate.

Claiborne, on the other hand, is actually the more talented of the two, and he has the look of a potential future top-10 NFL draft pick.

LSU’s safeties Brandon Taylor and Eric Reid don’t get as much credit as the team’s corners, but they’ve both been steady contributors this season, combining for 91 tackles and three interceptions.

LSU Special Teams

Kicker: Drew Alleman (Field Goals: 10/12, Long: 44, Extra Points: 38/39)

Punter: Brad Wing (31 punts, 44.4 average)

Primary Kick Returner: Morris Claiborne (13 returns, 30.6 yard average, 1 TD)

Primary Punt Returner: Tyrann Mathieu (15 returns, 7.9 yard average)

The Alabama Offense

Before the season started, many were wondering how the loss of offensive trio QB Greg McElroy, Heisman-winning RB Mark Ingram and top-10 draft pick WR Julio Jones would affect the Alabama offense.

So far, there hasn’t been any drop off at all.

The Tide rank eighth in the country, averaging 6.8 yards per play and rank 14th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 39.4 points per game.

RB Trent Richardson has taken the rushing reigns from Ingram and flourished in his first year as the main man in the Alabama backfield, rushing for 989 yards on just 149 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and scoring 18 total touchdowns.

Richardson is on the short list of Heisman favorites and the powerful 5’11", 225-pound junior has already produced a few memorable highlight runs this season.

QB A.J. McCarron, once the team’s biggest question mark, has proven to be a worthy successor to McElroy, as he’s stepped in and reeled off big wins in the first eight starts of his career.

Like his predecessor, McCarron hasn’t been overly flashy, but he’s remained consistent and efficient throughout the year, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,664 yards.

The most important number for the sophomore signal-caller, though, is that he’s only tossed three interceptions.

McCarron’s favorite target this year has been speedy senior Marquis Maze, who has caught 39 passes for 482 yards. But Maze isn’t the only Alabama receiver to watch.

Darius Hanks, Kenny Bell and the tight end duo of Michael Williams and Brad Smelley are also capable of putting some serious pressure on a secondary.

One of the most overlooked components of this Alabama offense has been the offensive line, which from a talent and experience standpoint can stack up with any other five-man front in the country.

The Tide have dominated in the trenches this season behind the play of preseason All-American left tackle Barrett Jones, right tackle D.J. Fluker, a future first-round draft pick, and the interior duo of center William Vlachos and left guard Chance Warmack, who will both likely earn All-SEC honors at the end of the season.

The battle in the trenches between Alabama’s offensive line and LSU’s defensive line is going to be a heck of a matchup to watch and it will likely be one of the deciding factors in who wins this contest.

The Alabama Defense

Alabama returned nine of its 11 starters from a unit that finished ranked third in the country in scoring defense and fifth in total defense last year, and so far this season, all that talent and experience has helped the Tide reign supreme as one of the defensive kings of college football.

Nick Saban’s defense is stocked with future pros all over the field, and the unit currently ranks in the top five in the country in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense and rush defense.

The Tide are only giving up an average of seven points and 180 yards per game.

Statistically, those are staggering numbers.

The main reason for the defense’s success has been the linebacker corps, which is probably the best and deepest we’ve seen in the college game in quite a while.

Leading tackler Dont’a Hightower is a versatile ‘backer who can move around and do a lot of different things to impact a game, while rush specialist Courtney Upshaw, who already has 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, makes his living in opponent’s backfields.

Both Hightower and Upshaw have the makings of future first-round draft picks, but they aren’t the only two Alabama linebackers to watch.

After a slow start to the season, junior Nico Johnson has picked his game up and really developed into one of the most underrated defenders in the country.

Outside 'backer Jerrell Harris is also a reliable defender who can always be counted on.

Two young guns to watch are sophomore C.J. Mosley and Trey Depriest. Both look like they'll be the ones running the Alabama defense next year.

In the secondary, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and safeties Mark Barron and Robert Lester are three of the best defensive players you’re going to find in America.

All three are long, rangy, athletic ball-hawks, and they’ve got the type of coverage skills to completely shut down an opposing passing game.

Watching the 6’2’’ Kirkpatrick battle it out with Rueben Randle is going to be a great matchup to keep an eye on as the game rolls on.

Up front, Alabama’s three-man defensive line has been getting stronger each and every week.

Nose tackle Josh Chapman is the seasoned veteran of the group and the player who really makes the defensive line tick, but guys like Damion Square, Jesse Williams, Ed Stinson, Nick Gentry and Quinton Dial form a steady rotation that keeps things fresh up front.

The bottom line is this: If you’re going to move the ball consistently on Alabama's defense, it’s going to take a great game plan, great execution and a little bit of luck.

Alabama Special Teams

Kicker: Jeremy Shelley (Field Goals: 11/13 Long: 37, Extra Points: 39/40)

Punter: Cody Mandell (27 punts, 38.9 average)

Main Kick Returner: Marquis Maze (8 returns, 29.7 yard average)

Main Punt Returner: Marquis Maze (26 returns, 13 yard average, 1 TD)

So Who Will Win?

When looking for an edge between these two evenly matched powerhouses, I have a feeling that the outcome of the game will ultimately come down to which quarterback handles the pressure of the opposing defense the best and makes the fewest mistakes.

Since LSU has more experience and versatility at the quarterback position, I’m inclined to lean towards the Tigers, even though they will be given the tough task of trying to take down Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Regardless of who wins, as a college football fan who has no rooting interest in the game, I’m just hoping that it actually lives up to the hype.

These are the two most talented teams with the two best coaching staffs in the country, and giving them two weeks to prepare and scheme means that we should be in store for quite a showdown on Nov. 5.

Early Prediction: LSU 29, Alabama 24