Staff Predictions for Alabama vs LSU

This weekend, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers will meet for the 82nd time with the Crimson Tide running away with the series 51-25-5.

Alabama has won six straight against the Tigers with 12-7 in Tuscaloosa. Although the Tigers momentum was derailed early in the season by Troy, they've fought back into the SEC conversation with wins over Florida, Auburn and Ole Miss.

With a competitive series coming to Tuscaloosa, here is who the Tide 102.9 staff has coming out of this rivalry with a victory:

Martin Houston, Host of The Blitz

Happy Birthday Nick Saban! The CFB Playoff Committee did Nick a big favor by putting the Tide #2. This is exactly what Saban needed to refocus the Tide going into the LSU game.  Look for the Tide to come out if the gate focused on both sides of the ball. LSU’s game plan to force Jalen to pass will backfire for 2 reasons. One is because Daboll will have enough creativity and passing options for Jalen to still be explosive. Call Ming off the bye-week, look for several younger guys to play earlier, including Tua. Tide rolls to 7 in a row over LSU w/ a one-sided affair. Alabama 41 - LSU 13

Wimp Sanderson, Co-Host of Inside the Locker Room

Alabama depth will play a big factor in the game. Look for Bama to move the ball early and to make a few big plays in the passing game. Alabama 34 - LSU 14

Barry Sanderson, Co-Host of Inside the Locker Room

LSU hasn't solved there quarterback issues.  The Tide defense will keep getting good field position for Jalen Hurts. Look for Hurts to have his biggest game of the year. Alabama 38 - LSU 10

Gary Harris, Host of The Gary Harris Show

The Alabama-LSU game has become everything that we hope for in a college football rivalry. Physical football played by two championship caliber teams made up of NFL caliber athletes. However, Alabama has won six games in a row against LSU and the gap between the two programs is getting wider. We will see more evidence of that on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide will wash out the Bayou Bengals. Alabama 35 - LSU 13

Travis Reier, Host of Southern Fried Sports

The Tigers’ offense will be improved under new coordinator Matt Canada but for the eighth straight time in games against the Crimson Tide, the Tigers won’t score more than 17 points. Alabama 30 - LSU 13

Aaron Suttles, Host of The Suttles Approach

If Alabama gets out to an early lead in the first quarter, this could get out of hand. It'll be close for a while before UA's depth takes over. Alabama 31 - LSU 10

Ryan Fowler, Host of The Game

The worst thing that could happen to LSU is for Alabama to be dropped out of the number one spot in the new college football playoff rankings.  Alabama has a big advantage in the trenches on both sides of the football. Sorry LSU, someone has to pay to price for the committee’s ranking. Alabama 42 - LSU 14

Ben George, Digital Managing Editor

I’ve been bearish on LSU all season but the team has been playing better as of late. I don’t know how much value you can put into the Florida and Ole Miss wins, but the Auburn win was a good one for Coach O. When I look at this game, I think it falls on the LSU defense. It’s healthy and trending up, but the Tigers have only held one FBS opponent under 300 yards this season. Compare that to Alabama, which has only allowed 300+ yards twice all season. For this game to stay close, LSU will have to force Alabama into passing situations and long third downs because I don’t feel like the Tigers will score much. Alabama 31 - LSU 10

Josh Smith, Producer

Whether in Death Valley or at Bryant Denny, when Alabama and LSU square up at night the atmosphere is always electric. The last time LSU defeated Alabama, was the 9-6 overtime victory over the Tide in Tuscaloosa. However, the Tide would smack adversity in the mouth and fight their way back to a rematch against the Tigers with the national title on the line. Alabama shut out LSU 21-0 to become the 2011 national champions, dominating the rivalry since. With an LSU team that has been facing an identity crisis since firing Les Miles, I see Alabama earning their seventh straight victory over the Tigers. Alabana 38 - LSU 13. 

Thomas Paradiso, Producer

Alabama has emerged from its bye week unbeaten and placed Number 2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Uh-oh. The Tide take on a revitalized LSU Team looking to come into Bryant-Denny and cause a stir. If Alabama sticks to what they know they should emerge victorious. But I don't think this will be an easy win for the Tide. This one will be a drag out, knock down battle between SEC foes. Alabama 24 - LSU 14

James Hardy, Producer

Since Nick Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa, the LSU game has been one of the biggest games on the schedule for Alabama and is no different this year. The Crimson Tide has had the upper hand in the series having won six in a row over the Tigers. One of the primary reasons for Alabama's recent dominance has been their ability to stop LSU's running game. Over the past three years, Leonard Fournette was not able to find running room against the Bama defense and that will be the case again for Derrius Guice. Alabama's offense will generate enough offense to provide a comfortable margin of victory. Alabama 24 - LSU 7

Marquis Munson, Brand Manager

It takes a really good quarterback to beat Alabama, and I don't think Danny Etling is that guy to do it. Even though there has been a pick up on the offense, I don't think the LSU offense will be able to keep up with this Alabama defense. Derrius Guice is LSU's best player and similar to how the Alabama defense contained Tennessee's John Kelly, I see the same thing happening in this game as well. Competitive game to start out, but I think Alabama comes out the gate slow on offense and then the Crimson Tide will run away with it in the second half. Alabama 34 - LSU 10