LSU Tigers

SEC's Best in-Conference Games: Number 1: Alabama at LSU

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Leonard Fournette will look to redeem himself after a poor performance against Alabama last year. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

When: Saturday, November 5th

Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

How to Watch: TBA

Why It’s on the List: It should be the deciding game in the SEC West and perhaps the SEC as a whole

Here we are. The number one SEC in-conference game of 2016. It should come as no surprise that the showdown between LSU and Alabama is in the top spot. The Tide and Tigers have been two of the best teams in the SEC for the past decade. Their games against one another are the premier matchups in the SEC almost every season.

This year should be no different. Both teams are incredibly talented and are the favorites to win the SEC West. But only one team can emerge victorious. Who will it be? Let’s discuss.

Linebacker Kendell Beckwith is the leader of the LSU defense. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama Offense vs. LSU Defense

As it has for the past two seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide will have a new starting quarterback this season. I had thought, until perhaps a week ago, that Cooper Bateman would be that new starting quarterback. But Tide insiders have been raving about the performances of redshirt freshman Blake Barnett, and true freshman Jalen Hurts. When I attended Alabama’s Fan Day I thought Hurts was the most impressive. At this point who even knows who will win?

The running back position needs a new starter as well, but the waters are much less murky here. Bo Scarbrough is set to start with Damien Harris and true freshman B.J. Emmons backing him up. Scarbrough is essentially a Derrick Henry clone. He’s big, strong, and surprisingly fast. Harris struggled as a freshman last season  but looked much better during the A-Day game. Emmons is young but he runs hard. He was very impressive at Fan Day.

The one offensive position where the Tide has an incredible amount of experience is at wide receiver. Calvin Ridley is a star already. Ardarius Stewart is getting better with every game, and he has all the tools needed to be a star as well. Robert Foster was starting ahead of Ridley before he was injured against Ole Miss. Transfer Gehrig Dieter can just plain catch the football. If Bama can find a quarterback, this group’s potential is limitless.

On the offensive line Bama returns three starters. Fortunately, one is left tackle Cam Robinson. The other is Ross Pierschbacher who is moving from left guard to center this season. Alphonse Taylor may have lost his job at right guard. Bradley Bozeman has been taking first team reps there during Fall Camp. Lester Cotton and Jonah Williams are penciled in at left guard and right tackle respectively.

LSU’s defense was not up to their usual high standard last season. To remedy that the Tigers brought in new defensive coordinator Dave Arranda from Wisconsin. Arranda has plenty of talent to work with, but his decision to transition to a 3-4 defense could result in some growing pains.

On the line, LSU returns two elite defensive ends in Arden Key and Lewis Neal. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they lost starting tackle Christian Lacouture to injury. Someone will have to step up in his absence.

Behind the defensive line Kendell Beckwith patrols the middle. He is the leader of the defense and is one of the premier linebackers in the country. Duke Riley and Tashawn Bower also bring a lot of experience to the table.

LSU has built a reputation for having nasty secondaries, and this year will be no exception. Tre’Davious White is a true lockdown corner who can take away one side of the field. Also returning are veteran safeties Jamal Adams and Rickey Jefferson. The secondary should be the strength of the LSU defense.

Advantage: LSU

Eddie Jackson is the veteran leader in the Tide secondary. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

LSU Offense vs. Alabama Defense

Everybody knows LSU’s plan on offense: give the ball to Leonard Fournette and let him go to work. And boy does he go to work. Last season he racked up 1953 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. Those are insane numbers. And if Fournette gets tired, Les Miles can send in Derrius Guice, who averaged 8.5 yards per carry last season. The LSU rushing attack is difficult to stop.

But when they play a team who is able to stop their rushing attack, LSU has to depend on quarterback Brandon Harris to bail them out. Last season he could not do so. He will need to improve if LSU wants to make a playoff push this year. Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural should help with that.

The Tigers lost Vadal Alexander and Jerald Hawkins to the NFL, but the offensive line should still be stout. Center Ethan Pocic will be the key man in the middle. If he plays well, the rest of the line will gel around him.

Alabama’s defense was great last season. Which is nothing new for Alabama under Nick Saban. The Tide should be great again this year, though they lost a few pieces from last year’s squad. Up front the Tide lost Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson to the NFL Draft. However, they return sack leader Jonathan Allen and nose tackle Daron Payne. The other end spot will be filled by either Dalvin Tomlinson or Da’shawn Hand. They should be one of the top units in the country.

At linebacker, the Tide should also be stout. They lost leader Reggie Ragland, but Reuben Foster seems ready to step into that role. Shaun Dion Hamilton should do well next to Foster on the inside. On the outside, the Tide return two elite pass-rushers in Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. Rashaan Evans is a versatile weapon who can play inside or outside coming off the bench.

In the secondary the Tide lose two starters, in the forms of Cyrus Jones and Geno Smith. They will be missed. However, the Tide does return safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Minkah Fitzpatrick, who saw time at nickel last season, should transition smoothly to the other outside corner spot. Finally, Ronnie Harrison, who saw time at dime should slide into Smith’s role at safety.

Advantage: Alabama

JK Scott will look to regain his freshman form this season. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

LSU lost senior kicker Trent Domingue, who was 13 of 17 on field goals last season over a scholarship dispute. That leaves Colby Delahoussaye as the likely starter. He has made 83 percent of his career field goal attempts. Punter Jamie Keehn graduated, so now the punting duties will fall to redshirt freshman Josh Growden. The Tigers do return both their primary kick returner, Derrius Guice, and punt returner, Tre’Davious White. Last year both performed well in their respective roles.

Special teams remain something of a question mark for Alabama. They need new return men, as Cyrus Jones and Kenyan Drake are both in the NFL now. The kicking situation is hit or miss. When Adam Griffith is on, he can kick as well as anyone in the country. But when he isn’t the poor guy can’t hit the side of the barn. Punter JK Scott was solid last season although he still had a bit of a sophomore slump. His average dipped from an obscene 48 yards per kick to 44.

Les Miles is a very good coach. He won a national championship and has been able to sustain success for a decade. Saban is one of the greatest of all time.

Advantage: Even

Can Les Miles finally defeat Nick Saban for the first time since 2011? Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction: I hate myself. But I’m picking LSU to win this one. I just think that this is LSU’s year. All the stars are aligned for them.

Thanks for reading. Do you agree with my analysis and predictions? Was a player grossly omitted from this article? If so, let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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