LSU vs Alabama Predictions: Placing Bets Against the Spread

This is the game that everybody circled on their calender when the schedule came out, although I'm not sure anybody expected it to be this big by the time it arrived.

This weekend will be the biggest game of the 2011 college football season as the LSU Tigers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Both teams are undefeated and have had a week off to prepare for this matchup.

How big is this game?

The winner will not only become the No.1 team in the country, but will be in the driver seat to win the SEC Championship and earn a spot in the BCS National Championship.

Both of these teams play very similar as they both love to run the ball and both play stifling defense. 

Alabama's workhorse is running back Trent Richardson who is the best back in the league and who you will one day see on Sundays. He is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and has 17 rushing touchdowns which is the third most in the country.

LSU uses a two headed monster at running back in Michael Ford and Spencer Ware. They both are small but fast running backs that help the Tigers rushing attack average 189 rushing yards a game.

The problem is both of these defenses don't give up much as Alabama gives up only 44 rushing yards a game and LSU gives up 76.

We all know about the defenses as they both give up less than two touchdowns a game and have NFL talent all over the field on that side of the ball.

The key to the game for me will come down to which quarterback can play better and make the most plays for his team.

LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee has played well and has made the throws when he has to. He is completing 63 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns. The problem I have with him though is he hasn't been asked to do much and that may cost him in a game where he will have to step up and take over the team.

Alabama's quarterback AJ McCarron has really played well within himself completing 67 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,664 yards and 10 touchdowns. He may be younger than Lee but he has really stepped up as the weeks go by and is gaining confidence as well.

Overall I believe that Alabama has the better quarterback, better running game and they will also have the home field advantage.

The line to this game opened up at Alabama -6.5 and since has dropped to Alabama -4.5. That's always good news when the public is so heavy on one team and I would wait until the line possibly drops even lower.

Alabama is 5-0 against the spread in their last five conference games and is 5-0 against the spread against teams with a winning record. The favorite is also 6-2-1 against the spread in the last nine meetings against these teams.

Pick: Alabama -4.5

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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