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
Milk
November 5th, 2011
10:02 pm
Trent Richardson is very hard to get on the ground. If Georgia does end up winning the SEC East, they better be ready to strap it on tight with 2 chinstraps because that’ll be the most physical team they’ve faced all season…bar none. I personally think Georgia has a better chance of beating LSU than Bama however. (Arkansas is going to beat SC tonight)
Scholarship
November 5th, 2011
10:02 pm
Inquiring Minds Want To Know
November 5th, 2011
7:04 pm
Scholarship
November 5th, 2011
6:59 pm
Same old low life UGA fans throwing darts at the Blimp( LSU and Alabama) on these blogs.
Well if you can explain how the 2 AL stars are driving $40K vehicles when they have no jobs and are not from wealthy families, I would love to hear it. I will queue the crickets and wait for a reference to a red trans am for a UGA player in the 1980’s.
You really have no clue. Every vehicle driven by any player MUST turn over all documentation prior to driving it with approval from compliance and the NCAA. Just to inform you, UF, ALA and Tn. have the top ratings in the conference on compliance as per the NCAA.
You really need to stop worrying about compliance issues at Alabama or LSU or anyone else, there are some really good compliance investigators at each school, the SEC offices, and the NCAA. I guess a kid like a McCarron parents must not like Yukons, as they have 4 in their family. Just thought you should rest your weary head and worry about Auburn next week and keep pulling for Arkansas to give you a shot.
Milk
November 5th, 2011
10:03 pm
Trent Richardson is very hard to get on the ground. If Georgia does end up winning the SEC East, they better be ready to strap it on tight with 2 chinstraps because that’ll be the most physical team they’ve faced all season…bar none. I personally think Georgia has a better chance of beating LSU than Bama however. (Arkansas is going to beat SC tonight)
ramguy68
November 5th, 2011
10:03 pm
Hell I’d bet the US Deficit if China would take the Dawgs.
I take that as a no.
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:03 pm
What you bet CROWELL is watching Peachtree TV? they have Harold & Kumar go to White Castle.
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:04 pm
you all are jumping the gun a little dont you think…the fourth quarter just started and even is the hogs do win uga still has to play auburn
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:05 pm
oh yes….im a lowlife uga fan lol
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:08 pm
Bama D is oppressive.
RTR!!!
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:09 pm
Great Punt.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:11 pm
These teams are both obviously overrated….pathetic.
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:11 pm
I know some of you are probably bored by this but these are 2 great defenses.
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:12 pm
USCe TD down by 2
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:13 pm
phil you cant be serious…….
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:13 pm
Exactly, katherine…over the yrs, auburn has usually won in athens, though not the last 2 trips…
ramguy68
November 5th, 2011
10:13 pm
Jeff I think it’s a great game between two great teams…unlike the SC/Ark game where you see major break downs on defenses on every possession.
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:13 pm
This is Alabama’s first punt.
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:14 pm
JEFF maybe good Defenses but the QB on both teams are NOTHING SPECIAL.
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:14 pm
im sure that makes you happy uoad
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:14 pm
I’m not.
Great defenses….
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:15 pm
ok then
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:17 pm
Kat…….Yes some, but BAMA or LSU will still KILL any team from the EAST.
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:17 pm
Trust me. It’s fun to watch when they hoist that crystal trophy after the game.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:17 pm
Looks like arkansas is trying its best to spare us an SEC championship game pounding at the hands of tonight’s winner….
SC is good.
spider
November 5th, 2011
10:18 pm
both of these great defenses you are talking about jeff are playing against very poor offences, stanford will light up the scoreboard against either, actually so would boise st.
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:18 pm
Bam!
RTR!!!
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:18 pm
That’s LSU second turnover this game. They had only 3 coming in.
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:18 pm
Like I said good Defenses but the QBs for both team suck.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:18 pm
Fire wes miles!
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:19 pm
Les miles…
Fire les miles.
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:19 pm
Ha!
Tater Chuggers. That’s funny!
Edvis
November 5th, 2011
10:19 pm
It was a black Trans Am.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:20 pm
Bench mcCarron…
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:20 pm
Fire FG…
ramguy68
November 5th, 2011
10:20 pm
JEFF maybe good Defenses but the QB on both teams are NOTHING SPECIAL.
Trent Dilfer was the SB winning QB for the Ravens and IT WASN’T EVEN CLOSE AND DILFER WAS NOTHING SPECIAL.
5150 UOAD
November 5th, 2011
10:21 pm
ArkieSAW is about to score and be up by 9 again.
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:21 pm
Alabama’s OL giving great protection.
Edvis
November 5th, 2011
10:21 pm
Bo Jackson had a Peugot.
Paul in NH
November 5th, 2011
10:21 pm
2 good D’s but some poor throws
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:22 pm
Who was that masked man.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:22 pm
He made one!
Hallaleu….
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:22 pm
I’ll take three.
RTR!!!
spider
November 5th, 2011
10:23 pm
if these are the two best teams in this country then this country is in big trouble.
phil
November 5th, 2011
10:23 pm
Trent dilfer?
The Ravens?
Find a relevant comparison…..pitiful.
Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
10:24 pm
So Foster gives Alabama a 6-3 lead. But there’s still a chance this game goes to penalty kicks.
cloudy
November 5th, 2011
10:24 pm
I’m sure you probably played jr high football spider- that accounts for your expert analysis of these two teams.
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:24 pm
spider…..and who do you think is better?
TrueCrimson
November 5th, 2011
10:24 pm
You’re a very funny guy spider. Acerbic wit… I like that.
ramguy68
November 5th, 2011
10:25 pm
A Pac 10 fan talking smack….that is rich!!!!
Paul in NH
November 5th, 2011
10:25 pm
Alabama has better looking coeds than UNH
katherine
November 5th, 2011
10:26 pm
and that is relevant how paul? lol