NO. 1 ALABAMA (8-0, 5-0 SEC) AT NO. 4 LSU (7-1, 4-1)
8 p.m. Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.CBS & 97.3/99.3/105.1 FM
THE MATCHUP
This one is rather easy. Alabama sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the Heisman Trophy favorite, having thrown for 25 touchdowns without an interception this season, and his 238.8 efficiency rating is on pace to shatter the NCAA’s single-season record. He is directing an offense that has averaged 39 first-half points per game, but he has yet to face a defense this stout. LSU has racked up 14 interceptions, and the starting secondary of cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Greedy Williams and safeties John Battle and Grant Delpit has the potential of holding its own against Alabama receivers Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, though the Tigers must account for tight end Irv Smith as well. It’s a dreamy showdown that begins with Tagovailoa dropping back. “He’s very quick with the ball and very accurate, but I believe in our guys,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “I believe in our defensive scheme, and I believe we have some of the best DBs in the country. This is going to be a tremendous matchup.”
ONE TO WATCH
Joe Burrow is “the other quarterback” tonight, but he has been that in games with Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, Georgia’s Jake Fromm and Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald — all LSU victories. Burrow has been an upgrade compared to recent Tigers quarterbacks, but can he be elite against the Crimson Tide? “Joe is not going to panic,” Orgeron said. “He’s going to be confident. He’s going to want to play his best game. He’s got that linebacker mentality. He’s tough. This is a big man’s game. This is a tough game, and you’re going to get hit. There are going to be some punches thrown. You can’t back down, and I think that Joe is seasoned enough that he can go through that, not panic and put us in the right situation.”
IN THE END
What’s not to like about No. 1 versus No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings? Alabama’s hard-fought 24-10 home win last year was the Tide’s seventh straight in the series, with Orgeron exclaiming afterward, “We coming and we ain’t backing down.” That added some spice for tonight, and then Nick Saban was asked on his call-in show Thursday whether he would elect to kick or receive. “To be honest with you, I hope we elect to kick (butt),” Saban responded. “That’s what I hope we do.” This will be fun for a while, but it’s too much Tua in the end.