LSU vs. Alabama: Home-Field Advantage Gives Crimson Tide Edge vs. Tigers

When Alabama takes the field against LSU on Saturday the biggest advantage it has might not be on the field, but rather in the stands. The Tigers haven't faced a group of fans as fierce as the Crimson Tide faithful will be when the nation's Top Two teams meet inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower talked about the crowd's influence after the Tide knocked off Tennessee (via TideSports.com).

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"Last Saturday was probably the loudest I've ever heard it since being here. Even when our offense was out there on the field, we were trying to make adjustments on the sideline and I couldn't hear what coach (Kirby) Smart was saying. I was just looking at the whiteboard and reading what he was trying to say."

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Over 100,000 fans will pack into the Tuscaloosa venue for what's already being dubbed the “Game of the Century.” And the partisan crowd will surely be even more involved than they were against the Volunteers.

Both teams have top-notch defenses, so there won't be a lot of scoring. That should benefit Trent Richardson and the Crimson Tide as they attempt to win the time-of-possession battle while keeping the fans pumped up.

When LSU does get its chances on offense, the crowd will be so loud it will be tough for Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson to communicate with their fellow offensive players. A primetime start means the crowd will be even more “prepared” than usual.

The Tigers have never emerged victorious from one of the rivalry games when the Crimson Tide were ranked in the Top Two. LSU has never been ranked that high when the two teams met, so this game is truly the first of its kind.

Even though Les Miles' team has overcome a lot of adversity already this season, doing the same next weekend will be a tall task. It will come down to which offense is more effective in the second half, especially on the rare occasion they find the red zone.

And since the Crimson Tide will have so many raucous diehards pushing them every step of the way, they have to be considered the favorites to win Saturday's clash.