LSU vs. Alabama: Critical Mistakes Both Teams Need to Avoid

We have all been waiting for this game since the schedule was first released, and we circled it on our calendars. Undefeated teams, in the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers, will square off this weekend in what will be the game of the year.

The winner of this game will not only become the favorite to win the SEC Championship, but will also more than likely earn a berth in the BCS National Championship Game as well.

Both teams are extremely similar in their styles of play, but avoiding critical mistakes will be the key to victory.

Here are the mistakes that both teams must avoid in order to win this huge game.

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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Turning the Ball over

In any football game, turnovers are key. If you can't hold onto the football, chances are you won't win many games. The turnover battle will be even more important in this game, considering that it will come down to defense and will probably be a close contest late in the game.

Alabama has turned the ball over eight times this season, but most of those had to do with mistakes from their young quarterbacks early in the season. On the other hand, LSU has a defense that has forced 18 turnovers, and they've only turned it over themselves three times.

It doesn't matter how talented your team is; if you turn the ball over, you're going to lose.

Letting the Opponent Run All over Them

We all know what both of these offenses are going to want to do coming into this game, and that's to run the football.

LSU has two running backs in Spencer Ware and Michael Ford that help contribute to a ground game that averages 189 yards per game. They both average over 4 yards a carry and have scored 13 touchdowns combined.

Alabama has its Heisman candidate in Trent Richardson, who has run for 989 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has the NFL body already and has very few flaws. Expect him to get a ton of touches in this game.

The problem for the two rushing attacks is this: LSU's defense gives up only 76 rushing yards a game and Alabama's gives up 44.

Whichever defense can stop the run and force the quarterback to make some plays will have a better chance of winning this one.

Putting Yourself in Third-and-Long Situations

As I mentioned a couple slides ago, both teams are going to want to run the ball, and that's because of their quarterback situations.

LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee may be a senior, but he doesn't have a ton of experience, and he hasn't made a lot of key throws this season. Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron is only a sophomore and in his first year as a starter.

Although both quarterbacks are gaining confidence and improving with every game, asking them to convert third-and-longs is a difficult task, especially against these defenses and all of the talent that is in both secondaries.

Putting your offense in third-and-longs would be a mistake in this game.

Getting Penalties

Along with turnovers, penalties not only drive your coach crazy, but also really change the momentum of the game. Hurting your team is the last thing you want to do in a game like this.

LSU averages 55 penalty yards a game, which is the eighth worst in the SEC. Alabama is the best in the conference and only averages 29.5 penalty yards a game. On the flip side, teams that play LSU average 60 penalty yards, which is the best in the SEC, while teams that play Alabama only earn 29.1, which is the worst.

Whichever team shows less discipline and racks up the most penalty yardage may end up losing this game.

Not Controlling the Crowd

Well, if you're an LSU fan, you would want to control of the crowd and take them out of it early.

We've seen so many times where the crowd can be more of a 12th man and help the team out by providing energy to the home team and help draw penalties for the away team.

The team that controls the crowd to its advantage will have a much easier time leaving Tuscaloosa with a victory.