THE ELIMINATION GAME:

Saturday, November 9th, marks one of the best rivalries in the SEC, two arch rivals with bitter hatred towards the other. A rivalry that history stretches back to the 1895. These two schools are more acquainted than neighbors. However these neighbors are the Hatfields and McCoys and they see a chance to ruin the others teams chance at a college football playoff appearance. LSU V ALABAMA or the date that’s always associated with it, “The First Saturday in November”.

Throughout the past 15 years, LSU is used to seeing Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide come into Baton Rouge and fairly be dominant in wins besides a handful of times. However, recently with Brian Kelly as head Coach for the tigers they are 1-1 against the Tide, and this year feels different. Kalen Deboer is in his first year as the head coach of the Crimson Tide, and with a new culture and team being built after Saban, it will be hard to top the excellence and perfection Nick Saban brought to Tuscaloosa. With coach Deboer, this will be his 2nd time on the road at an opponent with a scary night environment regarding the stadium atmosphere.

Alabama and LSU have the same record of 6-2 and because of that the game marks a point for both teams, lose and your playoff chances are slim to 0; win and you have a hope of a college football playoff birth. This game is a pivotal moment in Kalen Deboer first year, as a 3 loss season for the Tide will be seen as a failure. Then across the aisle, Brian Kelly is fighting to show the LSU fanbase and programs, he can handle big games and this team is moving on the up.

Just a couple things going to be at this game and explaining why this game is going to be hyped.

• Top 15 matchup between LSU v Alabama

• College Gameday will be there

• Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes will be the days guest picks.

• A real Tiger will be towed around the inside of the stadium for the first time… in a while.

Keys to the game:

This game will be strictly left down to the quarter backs. Who will step up Garrett Nussmeier or Jalen Milroe. Both quarterbacks were top 10 Heisman candidates in the middle of the season but have had head scratching passes and their teams have dropped a couple games.

For Nussmeier specifically he struggled against South Carolina where the tigers survived a nerve racking game in Columbia, South Carolina. Then two weeks ago against Texas A&M, Nussmeier had his worst performance as a Tiger and threw three interceptions in the second half, a game where the tigers were up 17-7, they would lose the game 38-23. Some of the stories in that game are not his fault, but one can wonder, can Alabama be Deja vu for Nussmeier.

Jalen Milroe has been inconsistent at times in the year, their offense seems to click but can run into spurts where no points will be scored for a duration. The game at Vanderbilt and Tennessee highlighted the issues on the crimson tides offense, showing a lack of speed and discipline. Alabama has been heavily penalized in every game this season, maybe suggesting the discipline of Saban no longer in the program.

Lastly, the Alabama defense has been more than problematic. Alabama has lost to Vanderbilt and Tennessee, but have been in super tight games that they squeezed out with like Georgia and South Carolina. Which showed problems on both sides of the balls. Not playing technically sound football, a rare sight to see from Alabama in my life.

Prediction:

While Brian Kelly is undefeated at night when playing at home in Death Valley, in my opinion there are more problems and inconsistencies with LSU, than with Alabama. Nussmeier is the part that seems to be the question mark for LSU. If he comes out with his best game, it is hard to beat him. However, his worst game, he gives the game to the other team.

I see this game being a shootout, but ending in Alabama pulling away in the end, as the offense sputtering out on drives and the defense not being about to hold off the like of Ryan Williams or Jalen Milroe scrambling ability all game. My final score for this game. 31-24 Alabama wins. First to thirty will win this game.

In the end, rooting for the Tigers is second nature, but confidence about this game is low after the Texas A&M game. However, I will be at the game, and as always GEAUX TIGAHS