LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Odds, College Football Pick

Alabama owns a four-game winning streak in the rivalry with LSU, including that national championship victory three seasons ago, going 3-1 against the spread. To stay alive in the battle for this season's national title, the Crimson Tide need to run that streak to five when they take on the Tigers in Tuscaloosa Saturday night.

Point spread: The Crimson Tide opened as seven-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 32.4-31.1 Tigers

Why the LSU Tigers can cover the spread

Louisiana State is off to a 7-0 start to this season, 4-3 ATS, after taking care of business against a pretty good Western Kentucky team a couple weeks ago 48-20, covering as a 16-point favorite. The Tigers only led the Hilltoppers 17-13 midway through the third quarter but used a 31-7 run to pull away. LSU racked up 497 yards of offense, 211 on the ground, as Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette ran for 150, which was actually his lowest rushing total of the season.

Three weeks ago, the Tigers outlasted Florida 35-28, covering six points, and just before that they won at South Carolina 45-24, covering 20 points. LSU has also outrushed every opponent this season by at least 100 yards. At 4-0 in conference play, the Bayou Bengals lead the SEC West by a half-game over Alabama and Ole Miss as they chase their first berth in the SEC Championship Game since 2011.

Why the Alabama Crimson Tide can cover the spread

Alabama is 7-1 this season, after topping Tennessee two weeks ago 19-14. The Tide had last week off.

Sluggish Alabama fell behind the Volunteers 14-13 with six minutes to go in the game but immediately embarked upon an eight-play, 71-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 14-yard Derrick Henry touchdown run to take the lead for good. On the day, the Tide outgained Tennessee 364-303 and held the ball for almost 36 minutes.

Three weeks ago, 'Bama beat Texas A&M 41-23, covering five points; just before that, the Tide defeated Arkansas 27-14; and just before that, they beat Georgia 38-10. At 4-1 in conference play, Alabama needs a victory Saturday to stay in the hunt in the SEC West.

Smart pick

During the Miles vs. Saban era with these two programs, six of nine meetings have been decided by seven points or less, including Alabama's 20-13 overtime victory last season. And there's not much reason to believe Saturday's game won't be close, too. Also, the Tide are 0-5 ATS over their last five home games, dealing with some inflated point spreads. Take the Tigers here, plus the points.

Betting trends

LSU is 5-2 straight up in its last seven games on the road against Alabama.

Alabama is 0-5 ATS in its last five games at home.

LSU is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games in November.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.