LSU vs Alabama 2011: Crimson Tide's Season Rests on Performance of A.J. McCarron

The Alabama Crimson Tide have done a great job this season, but this Saturday is their toughest test yet, and it's up to quarterback A.J. McCarron to be more than just a game manager. 

McCarron has played very well this season, making very few mistakes. His numbers don't stand out, but they're not awful enough that one would feel bad starting him in the biggest game of 2011. 

November 5th can't get here soon enough, as the entire college football fan base anxiously awaits the best regular season game of the year.

No. 1 LSU Tigers on the road against No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. What could be better than that? 

Both teams have outstanding defenses, which is why the game will come down to which quarterback out duels the other.

Of course, the Tigers are likely to use two quarterbacks in Jarret Lee and Jordan Jefferson, which means McCarron has to be really good. 

Trent Richardson has taken a lot of pressure off of McCarron in his first year as Alabama's starting quarterback, but this Saturday McCarron will square off against one of the toughest defenses in the country. 

Not to mention that the winner of this game is all but guaranteed to play for the BCS National Championship. 

That is a lot of pressure for McCarron to face, especially since the Tigers have proven they can dominate on the road. 

LSU is going to prevent Richardson from having a monster-like performance, which means McCarron has to make the big plays. 

The Tigers won't be letting Richardson burst off any big runs like this one. 

If Alabama wants to keep the trend of game changing plays alive, then it will have to come from the arm of McCarron. Not an easy task though, as the Tigers secondary is extremely talented. 

They've been burned a few times this season, but McCarron hasn't shown he can be a 300 passing yards type quarterback. 

Will he do so this Saturday, or will be crack under pressure? 

CBS analyst and former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson told reporters that McCarron can't make mistakes, and he also wonders if the Crimson Tide quarterback has what it takes to deliver on the big stage. Per AL.com:

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"Has he ever been behind 13 points? Has he ever thrown two interceptions right in a row?" Danielson asked. "We all like to drive on the highway with no traffic. I would assume there will come a time in this game when he has to step up and see if he can come through. You don't get a scholarship to Alabama if you're not extremely talented, but it's under pressure that we all get judged." 

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There will be a time in Saturday's matchup where Alabama will look to McCarron to perform well in the clutch. Converting on 3rd-and-long is a must if the Crimson Tide want to claim the top spot not just in the SEC but also the nation. 

Since both teams had a bye last week, it's tough to say who truly has the edge in Saturday's game.

You could argue that it's Alabama because the game is in Tuscaloosa, but since the Tigers have won big-time games on the road this season, they aren't worried about Alabama having home field advantage. 

Crimson Tide offensive tackle Barrett Jones told ESPN's Chris Low that McCarron has progressed very well this season. 

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"I think the biggest change from Week 1 until now has been his leadership. To have a successful offense, you have to have a leader at the quarterback position. He’s done a really good job of stepping up and being that leader. 

"The other thing is that he’s done a really good job of keeping his poise and executing. I’ve been really impressed with him in these last few games when guys would try and load the box, and he’s been able to make plays for us in the passing game."

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McCarron has yet to throw over 300 yards this season, but he hasn't needed to because of Richardson. He threw for a career high 284 yards in Alabama's most recent game against Tennessee.

ESPN's Holly Rowe tweeted about McCarron's progression this season. 

A streak of six games without an interception is very impressive for a first year starter, especially one playing in the SEC. 

The most pass attempts McCarron has made all season is 31, and I don't expect Alabama's game plan to be any different against LSU.

He'll throw around 25 passes, which means he has to connect on as many as possible because he can no longer rely on Richardson to bail him out.  

It's a heavy burden to be a quarterback in the SEC, especially for the Crimson Tide. Alabama's fan base is one of if not the most passionate in all of college football, which only puts more stress on McCarron to perform well this Saturday. 

Alabama has a chance to reach its second BCS National Championship game in two years, but the Crimson Tide must beat LSU on Saturday, or their biggest goal of the season will be lost. 

The hopes and dreams of Alabama fans across the country rests on the arm and mind of A.J. McCarron this Saturday, and the young quarterback has to deliver.