LSU has gone on a nice mini-run since its humiliating home loss to Troy. The Tigers have relied on an improved defense but are still barely getting by with an inconsistent offense, with the exception of their blowout of Ole Miss. Alabama will take away the run game, and I can't see LSU making enough plays in the pass game to generate points. I look for a motivated Crimson Tide to put on a dominant performance against their rival and get the attention of the playoff committee with another lopsided victory.

I’m not buying that Alabama coach Nick Saban will inflate the Tide’s enthusiasm here by harping on their surprising No. 2 placement in the College Football Playoff Rankings. The rivalry itself is sufficient, and the Tigers will be just as primed. RB Derrius Guice is coming off a brilliant 276-yard game, which raises hope that LSU can dent the nation’s premier rush defense. The visitors have covered in five of the past seven away games, and roadies are on a 15-6-1 ATS roll in the rivalry.

LSU QB Danny Ettling has done a good job of not turning the ball over -- just one pick -- and now he's facing the No. 1 defense in the land that allows 236 ypg and 9.8 ppg. And the Crimson Tide don't allow anyone to get their running game going. 'Bama has covered the past four meetings and their past four after a bye week, however, this is just too many points to lay in a rivalry game. These games are always close. LSU and all the points you can find is the play.

I have Alabama winning by 30, so of course I'm laying the points. This is the largest spread in this rivalry since 1993, when the Tide were favored by 24. (LSU won 17-13). In this case it's totally justified, and not high enough. Alabama just covered more than 5 TDs versus Tennessee, and the Tide have covered four straight meetings with the Tigers. Alabama, which allows under 10 points per game, might pitch a shutout here.