LSU vs Alabama: 5 Mistakes the Tide Must Avoid If They Want to Win

After a month of waiting, the national championship has finally arrived. No more predictions, no more breaking down the game, it's time for the players to handle their business on the field.

When these teams met earlier in the year, the Alabama Crimson Tide kept shooting themselves in the foot. Sure, the Tigers ended up winning the game with a field goal in overtime, but Alabama probably should have won the game. The rematch should be an excellent game and will give the Crimson Tide the perfect opportunity for redemption.

Here are a few mistakes that Alabama must avoid if they expect to become national champions at the end of the night.

Missed Field Goals

The game earlier this season came down to who missed their field goals and who didn't. LSU made three and Alabama only made two. Although the Crimson Tide had six attempts. All which were capable of being made.

We've seen so many games this bowl season where the game is decided by a late kick in the end. If Alabama expects to win this game, they can't let what happened to them in the last game haunt them again. Jeremy Shelley and or Cade Foster need to step up and make those kicks when they're called upon.

It'd help Alabama and we'd all hate to see the national championship be decided on another missed kick.

Not Giving the Ball to Trent Richardson

This was one of the problems I had with the Crimson Tide last game. You have a Heisman candidate for a running back and he only gets 23 carries. Sure, you're playing LSU, a team that's great at stopping the run, but this is Trent Richardson. He's going to be a top 10 pick in next year's NFL draft and he's far and beyond your best player on offense.

He didn't even get the ball in the overtime period. But yet games against Mississippi State and Georgia Southern he touched the ball over 30 times. Against Florida he ran the ball 29 times.

Trent Richardson is Alabama's workhorse and they need to ride him all game if they expect to win. You don't take the ball out of your best player's hands in a big game. He has been your offense all season and will be a huge reason if you win this game.

Not Sticking to Your Game Plan

We know how both of these coaches coach by now. Nick Saban is the conservative coach and Les Miles is the wacky coach that lives to take risks.

Last game it was the complete opposite. Miles didn't do anything risky and Saban made quite a few questionable play calls. Why in the world would Trent Richardson not get the ball in overtime? Why would wide receiver Marquis Maze throw the ball, which resulted in a interception?

It seemed like Saban was trying to catch the Tigers off guard, but that's not the way to do things. Stick to what got you to the national championship and you should be just fine.

Turning the Ball over

This is a mistake that every football team must avoid if they expect to win football games. You simply can't win games when you cough the football up. Especially in a game that will be as tight as this one.

Alabama turned the ball over twice when these two teams met earlier and both of the interceptions occurred on back-to-back drives. One of these turnovers set the Tigers up for a game tying field goal early in the fourth quarter. 

To win, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron must make some big throws, but he'll also have to limit his mistakes. One turnover could very well be the difference in this game.

Kicking It to Tyrann Mathieu

Although this didn't happen in the last game, it's just a quick reminder that the Crimson Tide should not punt the ball to the 'Honey Badger'. Kick it out of bounds, kick it out of the Super Dome, don't kick it at all. Do whatever you have to do to make sure No.7 does not get that football.

We've seen just how explosive he is when he has the ball in his hands.

In a game that will likely be so close, momentum swings will be huge. A big punt return will give the Tigers and that home crowd a huge advantage. The last thing the Crimson Tide needs is a big play and avoiding Tyrann Mathieu will limit those possibilities. 

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]