LSU vs. Alabama: What Program Is Winning the Recruiting Class War of 2012?

Well, here we go folks. This year's "Game of the Century". LSU at Alabama, this Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. It doesn't get any bigger than this.

Bleacher Report will have wall-to-wall coverage of the game all week long, and I'm going to give you a quick viewpoint from the recruiting side of things.

So come on inside and let's check this out.

LSU 2012 Recruiting Capsule

The Tigers hold 20 commitments right now, with four being inside the ESPNU150. Scout.com has nine Tiger pledges rated as 4-star players.

OG Vadal Alexander is a big-time player that could OG or OT. TE John Thomas is a future stud and CB Dwayne Thomas may be the next Morris Claiborne.

I love WR Avery Johnson and DE Toshiro Davis. Also, watch out for LB Trey Granier; he's a productive MIKE LB prospect that makes stop after stop.

This class has the potential to be in the Top 10 come signing day.

Alabama 2012 Recruiting Capsule

The Tide are at it yet again, with this 2012 class being another great Nick Saban compilation. Saban has 19 pledges, and eight—count 'em, eight—are inside the ESPNU 150.

The two headliners are LB Reggie Ragland and DS Eddie Williams. Ragland is a 6'4", 245-pound missile in the middle that can plug the run, tackle with force and blast ball carriers.

Williams is a 6'4", 205-pounder that likely could be a great rangy FS type with excellent ball skills, speed and instincts.

Other standouts include WR Chris Black, CB Geno Smith, DT Dakota Ball, LB Dillon Lee, WR Justin Thomas, RB Kenyan Drake, LB Tyler Hayes, WR Amari Cooper and OT Brandon Greene.

Prospects Both Crimson Tide and Tigers Are Fighting for

The top name right now, in my opinion would be safety Landon Collins. Collins is a 5-star player that has Alabama and LSU in his Top Three, even more so as co-No.1's. He will be in attendance on Saturday night.

Also, 5-star OLB Kwon Alexander has both 'Bama and LSU in his Top Five,while QB Gunner Kiel is rumored to be considering both Alabama and LSU. 

DE/OLB Channing Ward, and CB Tracy Howard are two other big-time recruits seriously considering both LSU and Alabama.

Who's Winning?

Right now, you'd have to say Alabama. The Tide have the higher ranked recruiting class and sit a little prettier for many top-tier prospects still uncommitted than LSU does.

However, LSU has proven itself a big time juggernaut on the trail and a win in Tuscaloosa this Saturday night be a huge boost to give them a surge up on the class ranking lists.

Huge game. Huge recruiting implications.