The No. 15 LSU Tigers (6-2) play their biggest game since 2019 on Saturday as the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) visits Baton Rouge.
By Steve Wright
Follow @14powerscom
Here are the three keys to an LSU win over Alabama:
Ride Jayden Daniels
To say Jayden Daniels has been hot the past couple of games doesn’t even get close to the level of play that the Arizona State transfer has been putting on. Daniels blitzed Florida and Ole Miss to the tune of 11 touchdown contributions, pulling the whole LSU team on his back and dragging them across the line (especially in the Florida game). Working in favor of Daniels is that his matchups at the wide receiver positions are good. Alabama has been a disaster in the secondary in 2022 in terms of conceding penalty after penalty for pass interference. If LSU can manufacture time for their quarterback in the pocket, they will have a shot at a big upset.
Be Better on Third Down Defensively
The LSU defense does a lot of things right. The turnover margin is +3 (good), and they are No. 10 in the nation in explosive plays on defense (great). Where they struggle, however, is against efficient offenses. One of the reasons for this is that they allow third-down conversions to their opponents almost 40% of the time, good for just No. 71 in the country. This suggests that offenses that can steadily move the ball, creating plus down and distance opportunities, can keep drives going. This is a big issue against an Alabama team that can run the ball well.
Follow the Tennessee Blueprint
Alabama allows less than 17 points per game which is an unreal stat given they play in the SEC West. Almost as insane of a stat is that Tennessee put up 52 points on that same defense, a number that accounts for almost 40% of the Tide’s total points allowed this season. LSU won’t win this in a close, low-scoring contest. Instead, the Tigers need to be willing to open up and expect this to be a shootout. Hendon Hooker bombed away on ‘Bama with long, deep passes. Mississippi State tried to beat them with mi-range throws that their excellent tackling defensive players ate up. To beat ‘Bama you have to challenge them downfield.
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