Alabama-LSU Is a Good Measuring Stick for Crimson Tide's SEC End Game

Every game is important to a team that is trying to make another national title run, but the LSU game has taken on an even higher importance since the hiring of Nick Saban for several reasons.

First of all, since Saban built Alabama into a national power, this game has much more national implication and helps propel the winner into the SEC Championship Game by giving them the inside track to the Western Division crown.

Secondly, since Saban was the LSU coach, the game has become more than just a traditional SEC rivalry. For LSU fans, it’s a chance to show they’re better off without him and for Alabama fans, it’s a chance to rub in Tigers fans' faces what they have lost.

But this year’s game has a new implication. It serves as a measuring stick to show the Alabama fans, staff and team just where they measure up in the SEC ranks and how they may do in the future against an Auburn team that has already defeated Les Miles and these Bayou Bengals.

An unexpected loss here or even a very tight game might not do well to calm the anxiety over meeting an Auburn team that handed LSU a defeat just a few weeks ago.

A decisive victory would likewise calm the fans but not the team and staff, who know that common opponent games don’t always tell the whole story. Many factors are in play and common opponent scenarios don't always play out as fans think they will.

Still, how Alabama does in the game with LSU should tell the fans even more about where the offense is at this time. Auburn struggled with the LSU defense, which, at least on paper, is as good as Alabama’s.

That game was a tight contest not decided until the final minutes. LSU held Auburn to their second lowest point total of the season in a 24-17 contest that lived up to its billing.

If LSU could hold Auburn’s explosive offense to just 24 points, could they do the same or or better against Alabama?

Alabama has a more varied arsenal of playmakers on offense than Auburn. While Cam Newton was the leading rusher and passer against LSU, Alabama will have two great running backs and a highly seasoned and skilled quarterback and receiver corps to keep the LSU defense guessing.

LSU will have much more to focus on than just stopping one man.

Following the LSU game, Alabama will face the team that held Auburn to its lowest output of the year, Mississippi State. So if the offense proves it can shine against the LSU defense, it may prove it can do it against the Bulldog defense as well.

On the other side of the ball, Alabama will face an LSU offense that has had some trouble with the passing game and turnovers as well. LSU is not exactly a scoring machine, but it has periods where it can and has gotten hot and scored well.

The Tigers have scored more than 30 points only twice this season, and that was against Florida and McNeese State.

Statistically, they are 72nd in the country in scoring offense and 10th in points allowed. Compare that to Alabama’s 27th-best scoring offense and No. 2 defense, and you’ll see why it’s important that Alabama have a good showing on both sides of the ball.

Mississippi State boasts the nation’s 13th best defense in points allowed, so if Alabama can’t move the ball effectively against LSU, it may have a problem the following week with these Bulldogs.

Yes, this LSU game will answer a few questions, but it could just as easily pose at least as many new ones.

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer)