Who would have thought a potential SEC Game of the Year involving Alabama and LSU would be in basketball and not football? There will be a semblance of home-court advantage in Baton Rouge with about 25 percent attendance allowed. That should help the Tigers some as should the Tide losing forward Jordan Bruner to a knee injury last week that will keep him out weeks. The Yale transfer was averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in about 22 minutes per night. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five in the series.

No matter how great LSU is playing right now, I have to keep rolling with Alabama as it has won and covered seven straight. Can't quit now. The Crimson Tide lead the SEC at 6-0, but the Tigers are right behind them at 5-1. LSU is just 3-5 ATS in its last eight games. What it comes down to, for me, is just riding the streak regardless of any intangibles, such as how well LSU shoots (49 percent). Alabama is the play.

Alabama is coming off a 31-point victory. LSU can match up very well so I will swallow the point with the home team.

Alabama has won all three of its SEC road games: at Tennessee, Auburn and Kentucky. The Crimson Tide are off to a 6-0 conference start and just demolished Arkansas 90-59 on Saturday. LSU, one game behind Alabama in the SEC standings, is just as lethal offensively but much weaker defensively. Back the Tide to cover their eighth straight.