4 Bold Predictions for Alabama vs LSU Heavyweight SEC Matchup
By Michael Luciano
Saturday will provide us the biggest matchup of the 2019 college football season so far when Joe Burrow and No. 2 LSU travel to Tuscaloosa to lock horns with Tua Tagovailoa, Nick Saban, and No. 3 Alabama. Given how potent these teams are on both sides of the ball, this game could turn into a Burrow-Tua shootout just as easily as it could a 14-7 slugfest like the Bama-LSU games of yesteryear. While these matchups rarely go according to plan, here's our best stab at what you can expect to see at Bryant-Denny.
4. Both Teams Run For 150+ Yards
Neither of these defenses are as elite as years past, and the ground games for both LSU and Alabama, led by Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Najee Harris, respectively, should feast as a result. Harris in particular, who is making a name for himself in the NFL scouting circle, could be in for a signature performance in this game.
3. Tua Tagovailoa Throws Four Touchdowns, But is Also Picked off Twice
Tua is a gunslinger who loves going deep down the field. While that mentality paired with a receiving corps of Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and DeVonta Smith can make for some gaudy statistical performances, testing an LSU secondary that features Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton, and Derek Stingley can and will lead to Tua turning the ball over more frequently than he's used to.
2. Joe Burrow Throws For 300 Yards and Three Touchdowns
The arrival of Joe Brady has turned Burrow from an average SEC quarterback into a potential No. 1 overall pick and Heisman frontrunner who is completing an insane 79 percent of his passes. He took on Florida's defense, and he dominated. He took on Auburn's ferocious pass rush, and he dominated. Wy wouldn't he, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson continue to rack up gaudy numbers against the Crimson Tide?
1. LSU Escapes With a Win
Going on the road to Alabama is about as difficult as it gets in college football, and you need a mercurial quarterbacking performance in the Johnny Manziel or Tim Tebow mold to survive the Tide's onslaught. Luckily, the Tigers have just that type of quarterback in Joe Burrow. As long as Burrow puts together another solid performance and that secondary forces at least one or two turnovers against Tua, LSU will leave Alabama with another Top-10 win.