LSU vs. Alabama: Definitive Guide to the Game of the Year

The time has come for the one of the most anticipated college football games in history. No. 1 LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 2 Alabama.

Here is a list of everything you need to know about the game.

When

8 p.m. EST

TV Channel

CBS; check your local listings. Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson will be doing the play-by-play and analysis, with Tracy Wolson on the sidelines.

What’s at Stake

The SEC West division crown and a spot in the SEC Championship game.

Many people believe that the winner of this game will also win the SEC outright. The highest-ranked team in the East is No. 9 South Carolina, and they have yet to play a tough team following the season-ending injury to running back Marcus Lattimore.

Should the winner of this game go undefeated and win the SEC Championship Game, they will almost assuredly be No. 1 in the country in the final BCS Standings, which determine which teams play in the national championship.

If people are right in their predictions, this game is the most important regular season game of the college football season.

Heisman Watch

The player with the most to gain from this game is Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

He is averaging 123 yards per game on the ground and is tied for seventh in the country in total yards at 989, even though players like Silas Redd and David Wilson have had an additional game to get over the 1,000 yard mark.

For LSU, the Heisman hopeful is cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. He has two interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries on the season. He also has five pass breakups and a sack.

The Honey Badger, as he’s called (because a honey badger takes what he wants), did get temporarily suspended for the use of synthetic marijuana.

His odds of winning the prestigious award were already low because he plays defense, but voters don’t look kindly on players who have missed time due to suspension.

Why You Should Watch

Outside of how important this game is in terms of the SEC and National Championship, this game has more star NFL talent than any other game this season.

According to Scouts Inc.’s Todd McShay, there are five first round draft picks between the two teams this year. That number could increase if players like Josh Chapman and Dont’a Hightower impress in the combine.

There are also a lot of underclassmen who could be future first rounders like Tyrann Mathieu, Rueben Randle, Alex Hurst, C.J. Mosley and D.J. Fluker. Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is also averaging an incredible 7.7 yards per carry, and he could also sneak in after a couple of years.

Also, the crowd in this game will be nothing like you’ve ever seen.

Bryant-Denny Stadium holds over 100,000 people, and there are expected to be 60,000 people there just to tailgate.

Alabama fans are known to be some of the loudest in the country, and with so much on the line, you can bet that they will be the craziest they have ever been.

Even though most of us will be forced to watch this game from our TVs, you should still be able to feel the energy of the place.