LSU vs. Alabama: Which Side Has the Better Rushing Tandem?

Both LSU and Alabama have ridden their talented running backs to offensive success this season. When chatter begins about either one of these teams, the talk always circles around defense and running backs.

Alabama has a powerful and speedy duo in Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy. Both players have started the season with a bang and have led the Tide offense to the end zone a combined 16 times.

Richardson has received the bulk of the carries for the Tide with 115 carries and 729 yards this season; Eddie Lacy has added 46 carries for 397 yards. The tandem is on pace to surpass 2,000 yards on the ground this season. That is a huge amount of production and the Tide has needed it to take pressure off their young quarterback AJ McCarron.

LSU has its own pair of talented, big-impact running backs in Michael Ford and Spencer Ware. The Tigers share the carries a little more evenly than Alabama, so there is a greater balance in the stats spread.

Spencer Ware is the leading rusher for LSU with 105 carries and 432 yards, to go along with five touchdowns. Michael Ford is the second leading rusher for the Tigers with 62 carries and 324 yards, while Ford has reached the end zone six times.

There is a big difference in production from these two sets of backs as the Tide has almost 400 more yards of production. The Tigers also share 48 more carries with third-string back Alfred Blue, which does contribute to the disparity in the numbers.

Both teams rely heavily on their backs to perform, and looking at the two tandems, it is tough to separate the talent.

One thing that gives an edge to LSU is the balance. This allows for either back to be extremely comfortable in the starting role. In no way am I saying that Lacy isn’t able to carry the load for Alabama, but having less carries equals less experience, so the edge here goes to LSU.

Where Alabama finds itself in a separator is the ability of its backs to catch the ball from the backfield. LSU only has a total of nine catches from Ware and Ford. Trent Richardson finds himself as the No. 2 receiver in the Alabama offense. Obvious edge goes to Alabama.

Looking at the talent and production from these two sets of backs, it is easy to see why their teams find themselves atop the rankings. Both teams expect production from the running back position as it helps keep their tenacious defenses rested and ready.

Despite both groups' abilities to produce for their respective teams, the Richardson and Lacy combo takes the lead in this head to head. The Alabama running backs are extremely versatile and slice defenses in multiple ways.

The more production value from a back the better, and no one can deny the Tide's one-two punch.