LIVE: Alabama vs. LSU for division… and SEC, and BCS
It's time to weigh in with your predictions. Here's mine: Alabama 20, LSU 16.
Nick Saban looks a lot shorter on TV.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — I’m quite certain there’s drinking going on here.
I heard something crazy like 30,000 LSU fans made the five-hour-plus drive from Baton Rouge to Tuscaloosa for the LSU-Alabama game, even though most of them don’t have tickets. Given the number of people I saw out there tailgating, I’m guessing a lot of Bama fans are here just for the scene — and the beverages — as well.
Welcome to the game of the week, the month, the season, the millennium — whatever you want to call it. It won’t get any better than Alabama vs. LSU or Nick Saban vs. Les Miles the rest of the season, nor probably even at bowl time. It’s difficult to imagine even the BCS title game living up to the buildup or the match-up.
These are the two best teams in the nation. By the end of the night, we might still believe they’re the two best teams in the nation (notwithstanding the fact that the loser will have one more defeat thank Oklahoma State,
If anybody lights a match, downtown will blow up.
Stanford and Boise State). Tonight’s winner will win the SEC West and likely be the favorites to win the conference and BCS championship games.
As I wrote in an earlier blog, it’s unfortunate that the two best teams play not only in the same conference (SEC) but the same division (West), which is why Alabama and LSU are meeting in November instead of January. And I doubt there will be a series of events that leads to a bowl rematch because I don’t think
As it turns out, one or two people decided to tailgate.
voters in the human polls will let that happen.
There’s not much left to say about the game. But here are a few things to thing about:
– Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron doesn’t get a ton of publicity. But given that games like this often are decided by a turnover, it’s worth noting he recently went 152 straight pass attempts (over six games) without an interception. He also has completed over 68 percent of his passes on third-and-long. I bring that up because . . .
This guy either lost a bet or is color blind.
– These are the two best defenses in the nation, so chances quarterbacks from both teams will face a number of third-and-long situations. In SEC games, Alabama is No. 1 in the conference with a 55.9 third-down conversion rate and LSU is third at 41.7.
– Of all the statistics that these two teams have put up this season, these two jump out at me most: 1) LSU has trailed only 6 minutes and 33 seconds all season; 2) Neither of these teams has trailed after any quarter all season.
Both of those stats will change tonight.
That’s it for now. I’ve posted a few photos to give you a feel for the atmosphere. I’ll be here blogging live until I have to start serving the print master. And now, I turn it over to you.
By Jeff Schultz
• Earlier: Weekend Predictions: Guaranteed winners (I’m serious this time)
• Earlier: Alabama-LSU have what everybody else wants — a great coach
• Earlier: Collapse of Hawks’ sale is just one more Spirit nightmare
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
650 comments Add your comment
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
11:55 pm
You aren’t very bright, are you phil?
phil
November 5th, 2011
11:55 pm
How does bama win that tiebreaker? I’m curious now.
Scholarship
November 5th, 2011
11:56 pm
Congratulations to LSU, they won the game when it counted. Both teams played a very clean game with the exception of Matheiu. The SEC will review that play and expect a suspension coming. Clothelining a guy from behind should have been an automatic ejection.
Overall, the 2 qb system at LSU is now a ONE QB system.
Mr Charlie
November 5th, 2011
11:57 pm
But if Ark beats LSU, the who goes?
Ark, LSU and Bama would have one loss,
if Ark beats LSU, they have head to head,
but then Bama has head to head on Ark,
but LSU has head to head on Bama.
So then it goes to the next tie breaker past head to head.
Scholarship
November 5th, 2011
11:57 pm
Inquiring Minds Want To Know
November 5th, 2011
11:41 pm
Has any one heard how Richardson was ticketed while driving a 2011 tricked out Tahoe? And has anyone heard why AL doesn’t suspend players who fail drug tests?
Are you Retarded or just slow? It has to be either one because anyone with ANY common sense would drop it.
phil
November 5th, 2011
11:57 pm
No, i’m bright enough, but thanks for asking.
Head to head doesn’t break the tie?
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
11:57 pm
Alabama has already defeated Arkansas head-to-head. LSU has defeated Alabama head-to-head. If Arkansas defeats LSU, then a round robin exists. The BCS ranking determines the winner in that situation.
Scholarship
November 5th, 2011
11:57 pm
The Highest Ranked BCS team.
ARdawg
November 5th, 2011
11:58 pm
It’s grasping at straws that AR would beat LSU but, if they did it makes for a 3 way tie. So Bama wouldn’t necessarily come out on top
Ole Smoky
November 5th, 2011
11:58 pm
Ain’t gonna be no “re-match”… Bama’s done… OK. ST. vs LSU will play the BCS Championship…
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
11:59 pm
Pardon me. That was rude.
Bama's Kicking Woes
November 5th, 2011
11:59 pm
Roll Tide,
How did Bama’s kicking game work out for you tonight? YOU always have ALL the answers. Your team might have won tonight with some more Georgia offensive linemen.
9-6. So sad for you and your trailer trash.
phil
November 5th, 2011
11:59 pm
Well that makes perfect sense mr charlie….tx for explaining. Didn’t have arkansas on my radar frankly though i know they’re pretty tough….they won’t be beating LSU though.
Scholarship
November 6th, 2011
12:00 am
Sunday Nites BCS rankings
LSU
Oklahoma St.
Stanford
Alabama
Boise St
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Scholarship
November 6th, 2011
12:03 am
The same guy changing his handle to make ignorant comments,,,,I guess when a team loses all the idiots who never actually went to college or could afford a ticket have to blog to pass their time away..
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:03 am
Georgia should be 5th in the BCS after whipping NMS….
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:03 am
Arkansas has beaten LSU before when they weren’t expected to, but I suspect that this game put Bama out of the BCS chase. It’s not the end of the world. They’ll be back in the running next year. They can still win the rest of their games this year. Life goes on.
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:03 am
Tru, I don’t think the BCS ranking would be the next tie breaker for the SEC championship game. Would’nt it be something a little more tangible, like point differential?
A person SMART enough to know......
November 6th, 2011
12:04 am
Where was less scoring in this game by brothers than at a Kardashian House Party.
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:04 am
That was too polite…
ARdawg
November 6th, 2011
12:05 am
Tough loss TrueCrimson. Thats why they play the games, somebody had to lose
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:05 am
No. It’s the BCS ranking. Arky could well be ranked higher than Bama if it did happen.
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:05 am
ARK can beat LSU, anything can happen, tipped balls, turnovers, penalties, special teams, etc. Arkansas will be a close game. Count on it.
ARdawg
November 6th, 2011
12:06 am
I believe Scholarship is correct. In a 3 way tie it’s the BCS ranking. They use to flip a coin
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:07 am
Hating Petrino as I do, may Ark lose to LSU by 20 or more….
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:08 am
Well, the timing of the loss counts, the team that loses earlier in the season is probably going to be the highest ranked team at the end, so if Ark wins, they will probably be the highest ranked. BSC is crap.
5150 UOAD
November 6th, 2011
12:08 am
I just don’t see ArkieSAW having a shot. I think the Hog are overrated a little.
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:08 am
Jordan Jefferson clinched the Heisman tonight…
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:09 am
I’m pretty sure that something like that happened a few years ago. Can’t remember the exact circumstances or teams involved.
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:09 am
Coin flip is better than BCS….Yea, hate to see Petrino have any success.
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:09 am
No true playoff system ruins college football in the end….it’s a real shame.
Two
November 6th, 2011
12:10 am
once again if ARK beats LSU and soon to be #2 OK state and soon to be # 3 Stanford win out there will not be an SEC team in the NC
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:11 am
Too many teams for a true playoff, but a plus 1 would be nice.
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:11 am
I hate the BSC, I don’t even keep up with it.
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:11 am
No kidding, two….
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:12 am
Nah…
Take 16 teams and go to it….
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:12 am
Two, but what if UGA wins the SEC? Ya think they would play for the NC? lol
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:13 am
That’s entirely possible Two. Of course those teams have to win out as well.
ALabama and LSU are still the two best teams in the nation as far as I’m concerned, but #1 & #2 will play in the BCSCG – whomever they are.
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:13 am
Bring back david pollack!
phil
November 6th, 2011
12:14 am
Award the NC to Georgia right now!
Mr Charlie
November 6th, 2011
12:15 am
Don’t need 16 teams, go with 8. Take all the major conference winners. Reduce the number of regular season games by dropping the New Mexico State games from the schedules.
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:18 am
I do think that 12 regular season games is too much. Those cupcake games help a lot of smaller schools even have an athletics program.
ARdawg
November 6th, 2011
12:19 am
It’s a relatively sure bet that a no loss or a 1 loss SEC team will play in the BCSCG
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:22 am
I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that LSU will finish with the first undefeated season that I can remember ever seeing there.
Two
November 6th, 2011
12:25 am
If GA could win the Sec in an upset and either Ok state or Stanford lose then would that help Boise State make the NC game?
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:25 am
Well… I gotta go take care of that other issue I was discussing with “Me” earlier.
Goodnight All!
And RTR anydamway!!!
TrueCrimson
November 6th, 2011
12:26 am
@Two
Now that would be an interesting re-match!
Scholarship
November 6th, 2011
12:29 am
Stanford cannot match the speed of Oregon, and Oklahoma St. just looked horrible on both sides of the ball tonight against KSU. The OKS game being played at Stillwater with OU should have made a difference but with OKS looked horrible on defense, The OK OKS game may be a 55 to 54 game.
It would be very hard for anyone to line up and defend LSU or Alabama in the run game, long slow drives would fluster OKS and they would want to score fast leading to turnovers. Stanford is very average and Luck had to run for his life last week against a depleted USC team and won in overtime.
Alabama does not deserve to be in the BCS with other undefeated teams winning close games, however if that undefeated team was Boise St, it would be a different story. LSU/ Alabama/ Arkansas would all beat Boise St. As would Okla St, Stanford, Oregon, Oklahoma, just have a hard time seeing Boise St ending up in the BCS NCG with their schedule. If they beat a weak TCU team it would not make much of a difference.
Two
November 6th, 2011
12:34 am
Ok, what if we end up with no unbeaten teams ( I do think that LSU has the defense to end up unbeaten ) so this is just what if, but stranger things have happened.
Trojan
November 6th, 2011
8:35 am
I know of high schools who have a better kicking game.