LSU vs. Alabama: A Preview One Month Before the "Game of the Year"

The newest Associated Press college football poll was released Sunday with Louisiana State and Alabama occupying the top two spots.

Both Southeastern Conference superteams are 5-0 (2-0 in league play). And they are on a collision course for Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa.

So, we have a little more than a month to wait. OK, that's kind of a bummer, but it doesn't mean the hype machine can't start up.

Let's take a look at where the Tigers and Crimson Tide sit two days in to October.

Signature Win(s)

LSU: then-No. 3 Oregon (40-27 in Dallas on Sept. 3), at then-No. 25 Mississippi State (19-6, on Sept. 15), at then-No. 16 West Virginia (47-21 on Sept. 24)

Alabama: at then-No. 23 Penn State (27-11 on Sept. 10), vs. then-No. 14 Arkansas (38-14 on Sept. 24), at then-No. 12 Florida (38-10 on Oct. 1)

Comparable Offensive Stat

Alabama ranks 18th nationally in points-per-game (38.4)

LSU ranks 19th nationally in points-per-game (38.0)

Comparable Defensive Stat

Alabama ranks first nationally in points-allowed-per-game (8.4)

LSU ranks ninth nationally in points-allowed-per-game (12.8)

Potentially Concerning Number

Alabama is tied for 71st nationally in team sacks with eight.

LSU ranks 100th nationally in average passing yards (177.0).

Potential Star/Potential Question Mark

Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick is one of the nation's most talented cornerbacks, and at 6'3", he's also one of its tallest. However, he was beaten badly by Florida's Andre Debose for a 65-yard touchdown on the first play of that game, and had Debose not barely stepped out of bounds, Kirkpatrick would have been beaten for another score a few minutes later.

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was suspended the first four games of the season for his part in a fight outside of a bar. He returned in the Tigers' 35-7 victory against Kentucky and didn't play much, but he did score on a goal-line quarterback sneak.

Jarrett Lee, who replaced Jefferson as the starting quarterback, hasn't lit up the stat sheets, but he is undefeated—which means more than anything else. Still, Jefferson could be a difference maker for the Tigers.

Possible Speedbump On the Way to a Matchup of Unbeatens

Alabama probably doesn't have one, though Vanderbilt (3-1, ranked 15th nationally in points-allowed-per-game at 15.8) on Oct. 8 and Tennessee (3-1, ranked 11th overall in passing yards-a-game with 336.5, 20th overall in average points with 37.8 and 30th in average points allowed with 20.5) on Oct. 22 could prove to be annoyances.

LSU has a little tougher road, hosting No. 17 Florida (4-1, 13th nationally in average points allowed at 14.8 and 21st in average rushing yards with 210.2) next weekend, visiting Tennessee a week later and traveling to No. 15 Auburn (4-1, 36th nationally in average rushing yards with 186.6) on Oct. 22.

Interesting Similarity

Each team has the week off before the showdown in Tuscaloosa

The Early Prediction

Alabama 21, LSU 17 (though that could change three or four times in the next four-and-a-half weeks)