Each week, two alligatorSports columnists will debate the biggest looming matchup in college football. Today, Adam Lichtenstein and Adam Pincus preview No. 13 LSU’s road matchup against No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday at 8 p.m. on CBS. For simplicity, Adam Pincus will go as “Pincus.”
Adam: LSU-Alabama has been the pivotal college football game the last few years. It was so important in 2011 it had to be played twice to figure out the superior team.
It may not have that kind of hype this year — Auburn has an edge on LSU in the standings — but it’s still a battle of top-15 SEC teams, including No. 1 Alabama.
With that said, the Tigers don’t have a chance.
The Crimson Tide has been the top dog in the nation since it dismantled the Fighting Irish in the national title game last season, and for good reason.
Pair a top-10 scoring offense with the No. 1 scoring defense (which gives up an absurdly low 9.8 points per game), and you have the far-and-away best team in the nation.
LSU is good, but it just can’t keep up with Alabama, especially not in front of 100,000 screaming Tide fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium — even if some leave early.
Pincus: I’m taking the Tigers to cover in this one. Perhaps it’s still the “I’m from Louisiana” song by Louisiana Ca$h playing nonstop in my ears that’s clouding my judgement, but LSU will make this a game.
If you don’t know which song I’m talking about, you haven’t been to a game in Death Valley and your ears have thankfully been spared.
LSU has the talent and experience to stick with Alabama.
Zach Mettenberger has started 22 career games and has vastly improved in his second full season as starter. Couple him with Jeremy Hill running the football, and Alabama has some players to account for. LSU is too good to lose this game by two touchdowns.
Adam: I remember that song. I have spent nearly a month trying to get it out of my head. Thanks for ruining weeks of hard work, man.
On the other hand, Alabama is building its entire season toward a spot in its third straight BCS National Championship Game, and LSU is not going to get in its way.
Mettenberger has started 22 games? McCarron has 35.
As the song goes, anything Mettenberger can do, McCarron can do better.
Mettenberger has some better numbers, but he also has receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
McCarron has talented wideouts to throw to as well, but no one who has put up the kind of numbers Beckham and Landry have.
Beckham averages a ridiculous 21 yards per catch!
But Beckham won’t be putting up those stats against the Tide. Alabama has the No. 9 pass defense in the nation.
When Mettenberger and LSU went up against Florida a month ago, the Gators limited him to his lowest output of the season.
Although UF lost, Mettenberger threw for only 152 yards — 77 yards fewer than his second lowest total. Beckham had only two catches for 47 yards.
Alabama will at least match Florida, stumping Mettenberger and LSU.
Pincus: I do think Alabama pulls this game off, but the question is whether LSU covers.
The last five matchups have been decided by an average of eight points, with Alabama winning four of the last six. Excluding the 21-0 embarrassment in the 2011 BCS National Championship, the biggest margin of victory was a 24-15 Alabama win in 2009.
It’s not a stretch to say that this game will come down to the fourth quarter. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if LSU actually pulled it off.
The Tigers are coming off of a bye week and are relatively healthy.
Also, Alabama hasn’t looked like Alabama this season.
This may be an unfair knock, but when you’re going for your third straight national title, expectations get higher and higher.
Also, I think it is time that we address the elephant in the room.
Nick Saban has his biggest distraction this season in a year full of them — from former players allegedly receiving impermissible benefits while at the school, to safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix taking a cash loan from an assistant coach.
An email obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday from Texas regent Tom Hicks said this: “Sexton [Jimmy Sexton, Saban’s agent] confirmed that UT is the only job Nick would possibly consider leaving Alabama for, and that his success there created special pressure for him.”
That doesn’t sound like good news.
Also, is it me or is the well-oiled machine that is Alabama looking a little obsolete?
Saban is the king of killing distractions, but this season has been chock-full of them. I’m thinking this may be one too many.
Adam: If anyone can keep a team focused, it’s Nick Saban.
The former Tigers coach has a record of 4-3 against LSU, but he will improve that on Saturday. And unlike 2011, there will be no rematch.
With weapons like McCarron, T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper, you can just crown Saban the king of the Bayou.
Pincus: That last line didn’t make any sense. The game is in Tuscaloosa. There’s nothing to do there besides drink whiskey and leave football games early.
This won’t be your old-fashioned SEC barn-burner. These two offenses can put up some points.
I say Alabama pulls it out in a 27-24 victory. Most importantly, the Tigers cover the spread.
Cody Riggs (31) tackles LSU junior wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during Florida’s 17-6 loss to LSU on Oct. 12 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
