"Expert" Predictions for this Weekend's Game (Bleacher Report, CBS, Sporting News, etc.)

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No. 1 LSU at No. 2 Alabama (-6)

The game of the week also happens to be the “Game of the Century.” Don’t expect it to be as low-scoring as the last time the Tigers and Tide met as the top two teams in the country (a 9-6 win for No. 1 LSU in Bryant-Denny). Alabama’s eight-game win streak in this series hinges on whether Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa can play and, assuming he does, if he will be at 100 percent. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, receivers Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs and Jaylen Waddle will have to make plays against a secondary that includes Derek Stingley Jr. and Grant Delpit (but will be without linebacker Michael Divinity). Joe Burrow and his receiving tandem of Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase should have no problem making plays against a young Alabama defense that has been subject to several blown assignments in the second level this year. Even so, Burrow will need to be mindful of Patrick Surtain Jr. and Trevon Diggs, who have been impressive this season in Alabama’s secondary. It will be close, but it’s hard to pick Alabama coming off a bye week in what should be an amazing atmosphere in Tuscaloosa.

Pick: Alabama 38, LSU 35

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Molly Geary: LSU
Max Meyer: LSU
Michael Shapiro: LSU
Laken Litman: Alabama
Ross Dellenger: Alabama
Lorenzo Arguello: LSU
Pat Forde: Alabama

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LSU at Alabama

– CFN Game Preview & Prediction
3:30 CBS | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Alabama -6.5, o/u: 64.5

Gill Alexander
@beatingthebook, VSIN: LSU
Jeff Feyerer
@JeffFeyerer, CFN: LSU
Pete Fiutak
@PeteFiutak, CFN: Alabama
Dan Harralson
@danharralson, VolsWire.com: LSU
Phil Harrison
@PhilHarrisonBW, BuckeyesWire.com: Alabama
Isaiah Hole
@IsaiahHole, WolverinesWire.com: LSU
Will Hunter
@wil__hunter, SpartansWire.com: LSU
Jeremy Mauss
@MWCWire,MWwire.com: Alabama*
Kegan Reaneau
@KeganReneau, SoonersWire.com: LSU
Johnny Rosenstein
@JohnnyParlay11, SportsBookWire.com: LSU
Nick Shepkowski
@Shep670, CFN Podcast: Alabama*
Scott Steehn
@Steehnroller, WinnersandWhiners.com: Alabama
Keith Stewart
WinnersandWhiners.com: Alabama
Joe Vitale
@JoeVitale, UGAwire.com: Alabama
Chris Wassel
@ChrisWasselDFS, SportsBookWire.com: Alabama
Joe Williams
@JoeWilliamsVI, SportsBookWire.com: LSU
Clucko The Chicken (a coin flip): LSU
CONSENSUS PICK: Alabama*

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No. 2 LSU at No. 3 Alabama (-6.5)

This is the moment of the college football season we’ve been waiting for. Two of the top teams in the country go head to head. LSU has been beating great teams all season while Alabama has been the cream of the crop for more than a decade. Now, they face off with the winning team likely heading straight to the Playoff.

So far this season, LSU beat (at the time) top ten teams in Auburn, Florida and Texas. All three of those teams played LSU close, but in the end, the Tigers come out the winners. Despite playing all those great teams, LSU is still the fourth highest-scoring team in the league. One of the three teams in front of them is Alabama, so we expect a shootout.

These teams also have great defenses. Alabama ranks ninth in scoring defense and LSU ranks 20th. The Tigers have a ridiculous secondary, which will be tested like never before against Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III at wide receiver. This matchup might end up deciding the game.

At the end of the day, this matchup comes down to the quarterback. It is Tua Tagovailoa versus Joe Burrow. Two players still fighting for the Heisman Trophy, and that could be another thing on the line in the matchup.

We’ll focus on Tagovailoa first. Reports say there is a good chance that Tua plays this week after right ankle surgery. He missed the Crimson Tide’s last game against Arkansas, but they probably could have won the game with you at quarterback. Any of you.

A lot has to do with how Tua comes back from the ankle surgery. We’re sure the LSU game plan will have a lot to do with forcing him to move around. We’ll learn early how well that surgery went. We think Ed Orgeron’s game plan will involve a lot of blitzing.

Meanwhile, Burrow is looking to make up for what was an awful performance last season. He went 18-35 for 184 yards and an interception. His offense was shutout in a top-10 matchup. It was frankly a pathetic performance.

This is a different LSU team and a different Joe Burrow. We are severely worried about the status of Tua Tagovailoa, and that in of itself will make us worried about putting money on them. Honestly, it’s probably better if Mac Jones played, but a limited Tua has us leaning towards taking the points, even on the road. Sept.19, 2015 was the last time someone went into Tuscaloosa and beat the Crimson Tide. We don’t see it happening here, but we do see overtime, which leads us to believe Bama wins on a walk-off touchdown.

Pick: Alabama (-6.5)

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