LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Preview: Quarterbacks Could be the Difference

I’ve been getting myself pumped for this matchup all week, and the one thing I have been waiting to say which I’m sure you’ve heard by now is that the matchup between LSU and Alabama could come down to quarterback play.

Obviously, Alabama has home field advantage in this game, arguably a more talented defense overall, a more veteran team, and you could make a case that their quarterback is playing better football.

That will be hard to do since LSU senior signal caller Jarrett Lee has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the month of October. Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron threw six touchdowns compared to only one interception, and also added two more touchdowns on the ground.

One of the prospects we highlighted earlier this week was wide receiver Rueben Randle of LSU, a guy who can really stretch the field in the vertical passing game. That is going to be extremely tough to do against a secondary like Alabama’s, one that features two potential first round picks in Dre’ Kirkpatrick (CB) and Mark Barron (S).

We know that this game is going to feature a lot of running, which is why I think whoever makes more plays in the passing game could be the difference, but we also know this is going to be a game dominated by defense. Alabama has two linebackers–Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw–who will make a serious impact on LSU’s ability to run the ball. They are big, fast, strong, and have been doing this for a while.

Prediction

I hate to even pick this game, but I’m going to take Alabama by 3 simply because they are the home team, they have more veteran players, and I think their running back Trent Richardson can take this game over. The only reason I hesitate is because I feel like LSU will be more capable of making a splash in the passing game, so that could wind up being the difference.

Alabama 23, LSU 20