LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide Preview

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, November 11, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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Offense? Who needs an offense?

This week, Alabama just might. The third-ranked Crimson Tide hasn't produced an offensive touchdown in its last two Southeastern Conference victories, relying instead on a punishing defense that scored twice last week on turnovers (Matt Miller and Rudy Griffith).

In fifth-ranked LSU, however, the Tide may have met its defensive checkmate. Alabama ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), but the visiting Tigers have permitted just 13.9. "Bama is brutal against the run, the LSU Tigers strangle the pass.

The Alabama Crimson Tide linebacking duo of DeMeco Ryans and Freddie Roach is considered among the top three combos in the country, and DE Mark Anderson has five sacks. LSU's stop unit is anchored by DT Kyle Williams and FS LaRon Landry.

A loss would eliminate LSU, which has lost only to Tennessee, from the SEC title race. Alabama, even if it wins, would still need to beat 15th-ranked Auburn next week if the Tigers manage to topple No. 9 Georgia on Saturday. And if Mike Shula's Crimson Tide needs any more of an incentive, most betting lines early in the week had the LSU Tigers as a slight favorite, even playing in Tuscaloosa.

Crimson Tide QB Brodie Croyle was being mentioned as a darkhorse Heisman candidate early in the year, but that was before a season-ending injury to Tyrone Prothro -- the Marvin Harrison to Croyle's Peyton Manning. Since then, despite Croyle's 1,930 yards passing on the season and over 900 overland yards from solid running back Kenneth Darby, Alabama has struggled to move the ball.

LSU QB JaMarcus Russell is hitting on 64 percent of his passes, close to the Tigers' season record, but LSU hasn't been blowing opponents away, either. Even last Saturday against Division 1-AA Appalachian State (and what was that game doing on the schedule at this point?), the final score was only 24-0. And the scariest offensive Tiger is probably Skylar Green, one of the nation's leading punt returners.

Given all this, two of the key players in the game might be Alabama's Jamie Christenson and LSU's David Colt. The place kickers.
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