NCAA Football Week 11: LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Nick Sabin prepares for the attack of 92,000 boo birds with LSU Tigers tickets in Tiger Stadium!

LSU Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide:

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Sabin has the No. 1 team in the nation, but he is also the No. 1 hated man in the state of Louisiana. Awaiting him in the famous Tiger Stadium is the No. 15- ranked LSU Tigers and an entire city’s worth of angry Bayou Bengals fans. This only adds another dimension to an SEC matchup that has the entire fate of the BCS on the line. Fans with LSU Tigers tickets will be in full throat for every minute of the action.

LSU Tigers Offense:
The LSU Tigers make it no secret that they want to win by running the ball. LG Herman Johnson is large enough to be classified as a legendary creature and forms a solid left side of the line with veteran LT Ciron Black. Behind these two beasts is RB Charles Scott, a great runner that has 11 touchdowns on the year and should break the 1,000-yard mark against the Alabama Crimson Tide. QB Jarrett Lee has been inconsistent but still gets the ball to great WRs Demetrius Byrd and Brandon LaFell.

LSU Tigers Defense:
As always LSU Tigers tickets feature an LSU Tigers defense that is loaded with talent on the defensive line. DT Ricky Jean-Francois is the best player of the unit but is joined by greats like Marlon Favorite, Tyson Jackson, and Kirston Pittman. LB David Beckwith is the emotional leader of the LSU Tigers and has been around for years. FS Curtis Taylor is the top dog of the LSU Tigers secondary and is a big reason why the Bayou Bengals are so effective against the pass. Fans with LSU Tigers tickets love to have Tiger Stadium rocking for the defense as it confuses even the toughest QBs.

Alabama Crimson Tide Offense:
Alabama Crimson Tide QB John Parker Wilson has quietly made a case for the Heisman Trophy, and the No. 1 ranking pushes his fame even higher. John Parker Wilson is a seasoned veteran and will not be rattled by any defense or crowd. WR Julio Jones is the favorite target of John Parker Wilson, but TE Nick Walker is also an effective weapon. The Alabama Crimson Tide have a top-flight offensive line that is the reason for much of their success. RBs Glenn Coffee and Mark Ingram rip defenses apart and have great yard-per-carry averages.

Alabama Crimson Tide Defense:
The Alabama Crimson Tide defense is of the 3-4 variety and utilizes confusing blitzes and zones to get sacks and force turnovers. NT Terrance Cody could be the top defensive lineman in football but has been injured with Josh Chapman filling in. DE Bobby Greenwood has become great at getting sacks, a rarity for 3-4 DEs. The OLBs of the Alabama Crimson Tide are huge and specialize at blitzing the QB. The Alabama Crimson Tide secondary features a great S in Rashad Johnson and a good lockdown CB in Javier Arenas.

LSU Tigers Keys to Victory:
The 3-4 defense of the Alabama Crimson Tide will be a tough enigma for QB Jarrett Lee to figure out so the LSU Tigers will probably stick to their ground game. If NT Terrance Cody is healthy, then running the ball could be a tough proposition. Herman Johnson might be able to block Terrance Cody one on one, but ideally C Brett Helms will also chip in. RB Charles Scott must get up field quickly and has to follow his FB closely to get past the second level. QB Jarrett Lee cannot make boneheaded plays and needs to be careful with the football.

The talent of the LSU Tigers defensive line against the Alabama Crimson Tide should make for a great battle, and fans with LSU Tigers tickets will be treated to a classic battle in the trenches. The LSU Tigers linemen have been better at rushing the passer than stopping the run, but this is more of a scheme problem than a talent one. Stopping the running attack of Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram will take a strong dedication to the gaps, and good penetration can stop cutback lanes. S Curtis Taylor and the rest of the LSU Tigers secondary must perform well in single coverage.

Crimson Tide Keys to Victory:
The speedy defense of the LSU Tigers is built to stop the pass and has shown weakness against the direct run. A good dose of Glenn Coffee and Mark Ingram early could quickly wear down the impressive defensive line of the LSU Tigers. John Parker Wilson might take a backseat to his runners, but he is capable of cutting apart a defense if given time. With the linebackers of the LSU Tigers being occupied stopping the running game, John Parker Wilson should look to TE Nick Walker as he cuts between the safeties and linebackers.

LSU Tigers QB Jarrett Lee has been prone to mistakes, and the confusing nature of the 3-4 defense can get into the head of even the most experienced of QBs. If the Alabama Crimson Tide can give a variety of looks to Jarrett Lee, then they can force many mistakes. NT Terrance Cody and DE Bobby Greenwood need to get a great push on the left side of the line in order to leave RB Charles Scott open to the hunting ILBs. S Rashad Johnson must play in the box to stop the run and will also have the responsibility of taking away the tight end.

Tigers vs. Crimson Outlook:
The long rivalry between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide gained another reason to become hostile when Nick Sabin took the job at Alabama. The LSU Tigers have to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide if they want any shot at winning the SEC title. The Alabama Crimson Tide have the better team on paper and are ranked No. 1 in the nation because of their sheer dominance of SEC opponents. Fans with LSU Tigers tickets are not swayed by rankings however.

The environment of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will be perhaps the most hostile environment in college sports as soon as Nick Sabin appears on the field. Fans with LSU Tigers tickets have actually caused small earthquakes in Tiger Stadium, and the pressure will be on. History also sides with the LSU Tigers as they have defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide seven out of the last eight times. The Alabama Crimson Tide may be ranked No. 1, but all signs point to an upset in jumping Tiger Stadium.