LSU vs. Alabama: 10 Things You Need to Know About No. 1 vs. No. 2

It's finally here. For many, the anticipation of the LSU vs. Alabama matchup began well before the season.

For nine weeks of the season, these two teams have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the country. On Saturday, they will finally settle the debate. Who is the best team?

Let's look at 10 Things You Need to Know About No. 1 vs. No. 2. 

Rubber Match

Since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, the series between the Tide and Tigers is tied at 2-2. Saturday’s game will be the rubber match giving one of these head coaches bragging rights, at least for a year. This season, more is on the line for both teams than in years past. 

Close Games

This game isn’t just one of the most high profile and high stakes matchups each year. Lately, its been among the most competitive.

Each of the last four games has been decided by less than 10 points. Based on what we’ve seen to this point, we should expect nothing different this year.

Top Units

Alabama and LSU both rank in the top 12 of scoring offense and defense. Alabama ranks 11th in scoring offense, averaging 39.4 ppg. LSU ranks 12th, averaging 39.3 ppg.

Both teams are even more impressive on defense. The Tide ranks first in scoring defense, giving up only 6.9 ppg. Conversely, the Tigers rank third in scoring defense, giving up 11.5 ppg. 

Turnovers

Alabama and LSU are two of the best teams at both forcing turnovers and holding onto the football.

LSU ranks second in the nation in turnover ratio behind Oklahoma St. Alabama hasn’t been too bad themselves, ranking 18th in this category.

Whichever team can hold true to this will probably win the game. 

Home Field Advantage

Alabama has won 24 of its last 25 home games with the lone loss being against Auburn last season. For years, the road team dominated this series. Something has to give on Saturday. 

Balanced Offenses

Despite their reputations as ground and pound teams, both LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee and Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron rank in the top 25 of passer efficiency.

McCarron has thrown for more yards, (1,664 to 1,250) but Lee’s passer efficiency of 157.4 ranks higher than McCarron’s 150.4. 

Season Domination

Both Alabama and LSU have won each game this season by at least 13 points. LSU has won by this margin twice, against both Oregon and Mississippi State. Alabama’s closest game of the season was a 16-point win at Penn. St. 

Common Opponents

Alabama and LSU have performed very similarly against common opponents this season. In two games against common opponents, (Tennessee and Florida) LSU has won by a margin of 61 points and Alabama by a margin of 59. 

Revenge Factor

Nick Saban doesn’t lose to the same coach twice in a row. The Alabama coach has won 12 straight “revenge games” dating back to a 2001 loss to Steve Spurrier’s Florida team.

We’ve seen Saban masterfully use losses as motivating factors for his team before, and you can bet he hasn’t forgotten the loss in Baton Rouge last season. 

Unprecedented Matchup

Saturday’s matchup is the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in SEC regular season history. Alabama, of course, faced Florida in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup just two years ago in the SEC Championship game.

The last regular season matchup of this magnitude was Ohio St. vs. Michigan in 2006. There's a reason they're calling this the game of the century.