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WHAT: Alabama at LSU
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
OR: Tiger Stadium / Baton Rouge, La.
SERIES: Alabama leads, 53-26-5
TV: CBS
LINE: Alabama by 29 ½ points.
THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE:
If Alabama can clinch the SEC West Division a week before playing the regular season finals in Arkansas. It will also be an opportunity for the Crimson Tide to avenge a disheartening 46-41 loss to LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The prolonged celebration that followed left a bitter taste for many in Alabama’s orbit, so this trip to Baton Rouge has a bit more spice.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. Quarters
The wake left in the absence of Joe Burrow made choppy waters this fall. A logical replacement was already in place but when Myles Brennan was lost for the year with a tear in an abdominal muscle. That left the job to a pair of real freshmen who have been strict at best in the last few games with TJ Finley at the start of the last four outings. After completing 17 of 21 assists on his debut – a 52-24 win over South Carolina – his numbers have grown and fallen since. He was 9 for 25 with two interceptions at Texas A&M last week with one of the picks returned for a touchdown. Max Johnson came off the bench at College Station to throw a late touchdown in a 20-7 loss while completing 14 of 22 assists. LSU coach Ed Orgeron on his weekly radio show said Finley would most likely start against Tide.
2. Who will collect the passes?
A tough season for the Tigers came with another blow on Sunday when main receiver Terrace Marshall announced he was skipping the rest of the season to focus on the NFL Draft. It was a LSU reception hall that had already lost reigning Biletnikoff Prize winner Ja’Marr Chase before the start of the season. Now it will be without Marshall’s 48 catches and 731 yards as the Tigers face an improving secondary from Alabama. The Tide has intercepted five assists in the last three games against veteran SEC quarterbacks.
3. And who will protect the QB?
Alabama’s Mac Jones has benefited from an experienced offensive line that has kept his jersey clean for most of his season. LSU quarterbacks, however, weren’t so lucky. They’ve been sacked three times at Texas A&M with Aggies recording nine QBs in total. “We couldn’t block these guys,” Orgeron said after the loss, according to the Lake Charles American Press. The Aggies also held LSU under 50 rushing yards for the third time in seven games with a 36 goal. The Alabama defensive front, meanwhile, had one of their best games in a 42 win. -13 on Auburn. He recorded three sacks at the peak of the season with nine quarterbacks pressed from six different players.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama WRs vs LSU secondary: It’s been a constant showdown to watch in recent years, though some of the star power is lacking. LSU still brings star cornerback Derek Stingley to the fight for a probable game with DeVonta Smith. A year ago, it was Smith who beat Stingley on a trick-snap pace for a 64-yard touchdown in last year’s game. Smith had seven catches for 213 yards in a wasted effort last November. Senior safety JaCoby Stevens also returns for the Tigers’ high school after registering seven tackles – 1.5 for a loss – and a rushed quarterback in Tuscaloosa’s win last year.
IN NUMBERS
4 – Number of offensive and defensive starters on LSU’s current depth chart who started for the national team for the 2019 title. The only attacking starter still playing is right tackle Austin Deculus. LSU tied an NFL draft record with 14 players selected from last year’s squad in April. This includes five in the first round.
LSU PLAYER TO WATCH
Tight end Arik Gilbert. With Marshall out of the equation, the real tight end of freshman Arik Gilbert becomes the offensive weapon in mind. His 30 catches and 339 yards are now team highs with Marshall gone. Of those 30 receptions, 21 resulted in early runs with an average catch of 11.3 yards. He’s most focused on third tries with 11 catches in that scenario leading to seven first tries. Alabama should be familiar with Gilbert as he was considered the favorite to clinch Georgia’s five-star before signing with the Tigers last October.
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