LSU Tigers miraculously control own destiny against Alabama Crimson Tide
LSU controls its own destiny against No. 6 Alabama in a top 10 SEC showdown this weekend.
The Tigers (6-2, 4-1 in SEC) are tied for the lead atop the SEC West, and they shockingly hold the cards to represent their division in the SEC Championship. They face a stiff challenge, however, as they meet the Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 in SEC) on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. ESPN gives the Crimson Tide a win probability of 76.4 percent.
It's one of two "marquee" SEC ranked matchups this weekend, and a tough test that will make or break No. 10 LSU's season. A win sends the Bayou Bengals into the College Football Playoff discussion for the second time in four seasons. A loss ends a potential fairy tale before it really gets started.
Alabama won the last matchup in the series a year ago, 20-14, in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide have won nine of the past 10 regular- season matchups in the rivalry, with their last loss coming at Bryant-Denny in 2019.
Off a bye, Alabama has rest on its side. So does LSU. A blowout win two weeks ago against No. 7 Ole Miss should put some wind in the Tigers sails heading into their their second straight game against a top 10 opponent.
For LSU, quarterback Jayden Daniels seems to have unlocked a cheat code, and he is starting to put up video game numbers with game-changing plays every week.
In his last outing, the dual-threat QB racked up 248 yards passing and 121 yards rushing aling with five touchdowns. Daniels has run for three touchdowns in back-to-back games and leads the Tigers in rushing. He'll need a third dynamic performance in a row to keep pace with a juggernaut Alabama offense.
The Crimson Tide have an elite and balanced attack that could give a decent Tigers defense fits. They average 274.4 passing yards, 210.8 rushing and 43.1 points per game.
Keeping up those numbers could be a challenge against an LSU defense that allows 21.1 points per game and is playing well.
LSU is a competitive team that lost Week 1 in absurd fashion and got wrecked by Tennessee, which earned the top spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. The Tigers' fate is in their own hands, and a win this weekend would dramatically change the outlook on Brian Kelly's first season.
More must-reads: