UA/LSU PREVIEW This is one of the games that I have been looking forward to since last season, and hopefully the Tide players share the same feelings. Alabama was simply outclassed in the previous meeting, losing 27-3 in Tuscaloosa. Saban's No. 17 Tigers have gone 6-2 -- its losses a 10-9 setback at Auburn and a 45-16 pounding at Georgia -- and have been labeled as inconsistent and underachieving by the rest of the nation. But with the pounding we took last year, I don't think 'Bama will be looking past them one drop. This game will be played in the trenches, and may the best team win. THE MATCHUP Tide Offense vs Tiger Defense ADVANTAGE: LSU Alabama's offense has performed about as well as you could have expected. Without the injuries, Alabama could be (9-0) heading to the Bayou, but we're not and we must play with what we have. What we do have is RB Ken Darby, the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Darby rushed for 200 yards against Mississippi State and may need to put up similar numbers for us to win. QB Spencer Pennington has had his best two games the past two weeks, throwing for over 100 yards both games. The LSU defense is loaded with speed, and to beat speed we must go right at it. LB Lionel Turner and CB Corey Webster are two of the best defensive players in the conference, and both will be wearing a white jersey on Saturday. The Tide offense isn't bad, but I give the edge to the 4th best defense in the nation. Tiger Offense vs Tide Defense ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA Many have been waiting for the Tiger offense to explode, but they have been hampered by inconsistent QB play. Marcus Randall and JaMarcus Russell have shared the spotlight behind center, with Russell getting the majority of snaps here lately. Whoever is back there, they are assured of having quality recievers to throw to. WR Craig Davis leads the Bengals with 32 receptions, including a touchdown in the win over Vanderbilt. Other targets include Skyler Green, Dwayne Bowe, and Freshman Early Doucet. LSU's stable of running backs are led by Joseph Addai and Justin Vincent. All of this power has to be countered with a strong defense, and that is just what Alabama has. The lesser known 'Bama players are starting to step up as well, such as Wallace Gilberry and Rudy Griffin. Meanwhile, the stars are still doing their job, all leading to the best defense in the nation. Special Teams ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA Dave Ungerer's special teams unit is the best in the SEC, and arguably the best in the nation. Alabama leads the nation in kickoff returns and averages 10 yards better than the second place team in the SEC. Kicker Brian Bostick is arguably the most improved player on the whole team and has hit 13/16 field goals, two of which were from 47 yards out. Bostick has also connected on all extra points, going 31/31 on the year. Punter Bo Freelend leads the SEC with 41.7 yards per punt and he has placed 11 inside the opponents 20 yard line. But there are some question marks at punt returner. Brandon Brooks has proved to be either feast or famine, and the coaching staff may decide to go with the more experienced Tyrone Prothro. The LSU special teams unit is solid as well. Skyler Green has done a nice job of returning punts, averaging 9.9 yards per return with one touchdown. But the Tigers have also been plagued with inconsistency from the kicker as well as the punter. Alabama gets the nod in this category. Intangibles ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA Hey, whats to argue? The Tide has dominated LSU in Baton Rouge, losing only one time since 1969. The last time these two squared off in Death Valley, Alabama came away with a 31-0 shutout. The visiting team has won six of the last eight meetings. Since 1995, the losing team in the game has not scored a touchdown in five of the nine games, a pretty interesting stat if you ask me. At 67 games, this rivalry is the 20th longest in the SEC record books, a series that 'Bama has dominated, posting a 43-19-5 record against the Bayou Bengals. http://www.ttforums.com/index.php?topic=12926.0
You guys have a really awesome site here at TigerForums and I am inviting you all to visit Tide-Talk.com in anticipation to this weeks game. We are all looking forward to a classic SEC showdown and may the best team win, even if it is those Bayou Bengals. :wink: VISIT TIDE TALK: http://www.ttforums.com
True, you guys have had some great teams under Saban and I happen to think that he is the best coach in the nation. But this game is not being played in Bryant-Denny and the road team usually comes away with the win in this series. But watch out for 'Bama's bad luck, minus the 1998 UA/LSU game. We always seem to lose the close game. In 2004, we lost 6 games by 8 points or less. And with depth and the home crowd, LSU could easily turn this trend.
Yes this is true unlike the Auburn series for us where the home team always wins, the road team seems to win this series, Saban so far is 50-50 so we will see, we like to live our lives here AS, or After Saban
oh the delusional bummers. oh how hard reality is to face. oh how you make me smile. Alabama could be 9-0? yeah and DA-BAR could be resurrected tomorrow then crap national titles at your wish. My god, please leave that bummer drivel where it belongs...in DelusionAL-ABAMA, not here. you have playmakers on defense, I'll give you that. However, the fact your strength of schedule is about 100 out of 117 D1A teams says a lot. I'd prefer to be ranked 4th in total defense and have been tested by more than the likes of Utah St, Ole myth before they had an offense, Miss St, Kentucky and Western Carolina. Your defensive stats have come against basically 5 div2 teams. Careful of those numbers. LSU's offense will expose you tomorrow even as bad as its been at times yet TROY is better than the above 5 teams you played while UGA, AU, Troy and UF have a tad better defense so LSU is just a tad more tested. Prepare to see LSU run over and through you and come away with a reality, eye-opening double digit victory again and see Little Boy Shula take another one in the L column from Little Nickie. LSU 23 Bummers 13 have a safe, long trip home.
No, I think we would be (9-0) if we had Croyle, Hudson, and Castille. Those are three players that have combined for 17 touchdowns. Not too shabby numbers I might add. As for our schedule, I admit... it is weaker than I'd like. Although last year it was #1 in the nation, replacing Oklahoma with Western Carolina along with others did help us get some wins under our belt. What is it with the teams that play us? What is so bad with having 12 national championships, 21 SEC Championships, More Bowl Appearances than Anyone in the Nation (51, soon to be 52), more bowl victories than anyone in the nation (29), and the best college football coach that ever lived? Could it be that nobody else has those honors? Mmm...
Just like a Bama Fan to live in the past and not the present... there has been a changing of the guard in the SEC West... get used to it... the Bear is dead, and so are Bama's hopes of winning another MNC...
and we would be 8-0 and headed for consecutive NC's if Michael Clayton, Marquise Hill and Matt Mauck returned. Also we may have 4 more NC's if Bill Arnsparger decided to stay or if Bo Rein didn't die in a plane crash or if we didn't hire that Bama idiot Curley Hallman or, well you get my point. IF IF IF all you want. I just explained exactly why you will lose and its because you are TOTALLY untested....be sure to come back and congratulate me after our win. 23-13, the non-cheating guys.
Well, considering we are only the only SEC team to have a "past" that is nationally recognized, I think that answers my question. While you at it, please try to tell me how I live in the past. The original topic of this post was "UA/LSU Preview", that is living in the future. And also, you guys beat Oklahoma in January right? Now correct me if I'm wrong, but it is November the 12th, and January happens to be in the past. Therefore, be consistent and never say another word about your win in the Sugar Bowl earlier in the year. Afterall, if you were to win 10 straight you guys could tie us. That's okay though, many other teams are with you. Drink up! :wink:
