re: I think some of you have bought the LSU hype a little bit

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Also, when you factor in the fact that no one on there team has better Bama, that adds another level to it.

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I think it works against them. Bama is completely in their head. The first smidgeon of adversity (turnover, sack, hell, just a 3 & out) and they start thinking, "Here we go again" and implode. This one gets ugly early.

My disagreement is with them scoring points. They rank dead last in the SEC in ypp. Burrow ranks last in %, 13th in QBR and TDs, and 12th in ypa. Their top 2 backs rank 23rd and 31st in ypc.

I’m trying to find a way they score 20 and I just don’t see it.

My biggest concern is our LB's covering the TE and RB. I think Lsu uses our game plan from the 2011 rematch and tries to control the clock with short, quick passes. If we have a few drives early that end quick with no points, we are in for a dog fight.

I agree. I know we've historically had very close games with LSU, but we've also never had an offense like this at Alabama in our lifetimes. I think a lot of Bama fans WANT this to be a close game, not only because that makes it more exciting, but also because they can finally say that Tua has really been tested.

I don't see LSU holding us to less than 40. And I don't see LSU scoring more than 20. The least we've scored this season is 39, and that was in the Mizzou game where we lost Tua, Devonta Smith, and Henry Ruggs to injury early in the second half. LSU has a great defense and an outstanding secondary, and they may be able to slow Tua down a bit, but they are not going to be able to stop him. Our defense isn't as great as it has been in previous years, but it's not as bad as a lot of people think either. They fail to realize that a lot of the points Alabama has given up this season has been against the 2nd and 3rd string defense in garbage time when we were already up 30+. Burrow, for all of LSU's hype, is still pretty mediocre. 6 TD passes and 3 interceptions for the season, and ZERO TD passes in the last three games.

For Alabama to lose or for LSU to keep it close, one or more of the following things is going to need to happen:

- Joe Burrow has the game of his life and outperforms Tua in a shootout (highly unlikely)

- LSU displays a nearly unstoppable running game (highly unlikely)

- Tua throws three or more interceptions leading to LSU touchdowns (that LSU secondary is great, but I don't think this is very likely either)

Obviously, everything I've said here hinges on Tua playing in the game and staying healthy. If he gets hurt, then disregard all of this, lol. I still think we could win without Tua, but without Tua it's a COMPLETELY different team.

Edit: I also want to say that my claim of Tua dropping 40+ on LSU's defense in four quarters is not a slight on them. They have an outstanding defense. But if Tua had stayed in games for 4 quarters this season, we'd probably be scoring 75-100 points against most of the teams we've played this year. Keeping Alabama in the 40s with Tua playing a full game is respectable, as laughable as I'm sure that would sound to them.

What I love about this offense is it gives Alabama the option to play this game in any direction it goes.

They'll be able to operate in a close grind it out game if that's what it turns into. Can also put the gas down WHENEVER it needs or has to.

On paper, LSU is walking a razor's edge the second the football is kicked and they have one avenue to victory.

And that's shut down Tua and hope they can manufacture 24 points.

It SHOULD be incredibly difficult for LSU to win this game.

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And that's shut down Tua and hope they can manufacture 24 points.

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I think the worse case scenario with a healthy Tua is we have to lengthen the game our offense turns to volume scoring. If Tua throws it 50-60 times, I don't think it will be less than 24 points.

I agree. 40 will happen, 50 is if nick wants it to happen.

I am looking forward to our DL doing unspeakable things to them.

This is a 38-20 game. They'll shave 16 points off our average and be proud of it.

The day after the game, we'll hear what we always hear. "We played you tougher than anybody!!"

They take so much pride in being our best loser. They'll actually crow over it.

It's charming, really it is.

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Meh. It's Ed O and an LSU team that has had things fall into place with good fortune

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That part you're right about.

Scratch the surface on this team just a little and it's easy to see how and why they're winning games.

That team's a shitty offensive mess that's built it's defensive rep on other shitty offensive teams.

Here's something they don't want to talk about. Up until they played state and darling fitzy, alabama led in interceptions.

And they think it's tua tatonka who's gonna throw picks. Wait 'til alabama gets their fill of average joe.

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Last year it was hilarious with them bragging about losing by 2 TDs.

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And that's exactly what they do. They brag about losing better than anyone else.

"We play ya'll tougher than anybody you know it"!!