It’s the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the LSU Tigers. Need we say more??

The tide turned in this rivalry (pun intended of course) back on January 9, 2012. ‘Bama rumbled to a (heavily contested) National Championship at the SuperDome in New Orleans, defeating LSU in a defensive battle.

Just months prior, LSU upended ‘Bama in the “Game of the Century” in Tuscaloosa. But since that title game, Alabama has owned this rivalry. They’ve won in their home dwelling and they’ve won in Baton Rouge. It hasn’t mattered that they’ve been to Death Valley at night three times before this upcoming meeting. They’ve won ‘em all.

It certainly looks like they’re primed to do it again. I mean how much time do we really need to spend here? Tua Tagovailoa is a generational talent. He has an array of offensive talent around him (that might, actually, be offensive). Their defense hasn’t been up to par with other great Tide defenses, and the laughable thing is that none of it has mattered one bit. They are bulldozing teams left and right without so much of a hint of a “pressure situation.”

Now, granted, they haven’t faced a team like LSU yet. The Tigers are damn good. They did slip up to the Florida Gators, but also trounced the Georgia Bulldogs the following week. They have two of the best defensive backs in the country in Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit. The defense is 3rd in the SEC in PPG allowed. But of course, they will be without the services of Devin White. White is going through a controversial suspension right now, which will keep him out of the first half of this game. So his presence will almost certainly be missed.

Whether he’s the difference or not isn’t really the question (I mean, again, have you seen that Alabama offense?) The Tigers simply have to play perfectly if they want to even stand so much of a chance of winning. Joe Burrow needs to play his best game ever, basically. Nick Brossette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire need to take advantage of Alabama’s “porous” run defense.

Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Probably not likely! But you just never know. This will be a doozy down in Baton Rouge, as always. And it should have your full attention.

HOW TO WATCH

Time: 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

TV: CBS (Check local listings)

Watch Online: CBSSports.com

BETTING INFO

Spread: Alabama -14/-14.5/ depending on location

Total: 53.5/54

Records ATS: Alabama (5-3) | LSU (5-3)