At the start of the college football season, all college football fans dream for games like this.
Two dominant teams going head-to-head in a game that has implications far and wide, whether it be bragging rights in the rivalry, conference championship hopes and most certainly one that will help to shape the landscape of the College Football playoff. Should I dare say, this game just means more.
On Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST in Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the Tigers of LSU will kickoff in what is sure to be one of the best games of the college football season to date. The winner will almost certainly move on to face the winner of the Eastern division winner for the SEC Championship in Atlanta, as well as cement themselves as arguably the team to beat at the top of the College Football Rankings.
Both teams come in with impressive resumes, wanting to prove that they are in fact the top team in the land.
Which star-studded quarterback has the better day? We know that both Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow are the heart and soul of their respective teams.
Both signal callers are having remarkable seasons thus far, and should be in contention to be both in the Heisman conversation as well as first-round NFL Draft picks. The main difference in this game is that one is healthy and one is not. Only two weeks removed from minor surgery to fix a tweaked ankle, the biggest question leading into this game is whether or not Tua will be cleared to play.
The Tide could sure use his dynamic playmaking abilities, as he has arguably been the nation’s most prolific passer this season, completing 74.7% of his passes for 2.166 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only two interceptions.
If he is not cleared to play, the Tide will turn to backup Mac Jones to lead the offense. Alabama needs Tua. Without him, I predict the offense to struggle mightily against what will be their biggest test of the season.
LSU is here, so can they prove that they are the best in the land: After jumping Alabama in the AP Poll to overtake the Tide for the top spot, this game will serve as the true test as to whether or not the ordering is correct.
LSU has already played in some big-time games this season, beating Texas on the road, earning a hard-fought victory over Florida in Death Valley, and quite frankly dismantling anyone else that has come in their path.
Can they jump over their biggest hurdle yet? Bryant-Denny will surely be a hostile environment as it always proves to be for visiting teams.
The game has a start time of 2:30 p.m. and can be watched on CBS.
Collin is a sports writer for The Crimson. He is a senior finance major.
