Alabama vs. LSU: Why Trent Richardson Is Saturday's Most Important Player

When No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama square off in a fantastic SEC showdown Saturday, Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson will be the player who will carry Nick Saban's team to victory in Tuscaloosa.

He is the most important player to the Alabama offense, and he will have a significant role in Saturday's epic clash.

The last two times Alabama has been in a game that involved the top two ranked teams in America, the Tide has won.

Richardson has rushed for 989 yards this season, but most impressive is his 17 touchdowns—and it's a stat he will increase against LSU.

Alabama's offense is ranked higher than LSU in both passing and rushing, and Richardson is a big reason for that.

He not only leads the Crimson Tide rushing attack, which is 14th in the nation, averaging 229.3 yards per game, but he also helps open up the passing game for the team.

LSU must be careful when they look to stop Richardson, because Alabama is capable of throwing the ball with great effectiveness too.

The Crimson Tide offensive line is very good, and Richardson can help the Alabama offense control the clock and keep the talented Tigers offense off the field for as long as possible.

Richardson is a fantastic talent that will be playing on Sundays in the NFL in the near future.

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"I see an NFL back that's ready to play now," LSU safety Brandon Taylor said. "I see a Heisman candidate. He's a great runner. You've got to make sure you tackle him."

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NFL scouts love what they see from Richardson, and he is shaping up to be a top 10 pick in next year's NFL Draft.

Tackling will be the key in stopping Richardson for LSU. He is extremely quick, has good speed and as we saw earlier this season against Ole Miss, he has fantastic juke moves.

Richardson will be breaking tackles and running for big gains on Saturday against LSU. The Tigers defense is strong, but Richardson is the best running back they will play all season and has all the tools needed to beat a strong defense.

Alabama will win on Saturday against LSU, and the running success of Trent Richardson will carry them to the top of the BCS rankings and AP poll.

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for the latest sports news and updates. Follow @NicholasGoss35