SPORTS BETTING

• LSU at Alabama Preview

  Posted on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  The top two teams in the SEC West collide this weekend when the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide host the No. 9 Louisiana State Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 10 of the college football season.
   
  Oddsmakers have set the Crimson Tide as 9-point home favorites. Alabama took the most recent meeting between these rivals, 27-21, in overtime at LSU last season. That victory snapped a five-game winning streak by the Tigers, who are 3-2-1 ATS versus the Tide since 2003.
   
  There is still a lot of bad blood on the sidelines when it comes to Alabama head coach Nick Saban and the LSU program. Saban left the program for the NFL back in 2005, and after two unsuccessful campaigns with the Miami Dolphins returned to the college ranks to not only coach within the SEC, but with the Crimson Tide – the Tigers' main competition in the SEC West.
   
  The animosity towards Saban has grown over the last two seasons. He's officially coached the Crimson Tide into the team to beat in the SEC West and bumped LSU from the top of the totem pole. This year, Saban's kids are 8-0 with a 4-3 record against the spread.
   
  Alabama is coming off a bye week and has had two weeks to correct the issues exposed in their 12-10 nail-biting victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in Week 8. All of the Crimson Tide's points came off the foot of kicker Leigh Tiffin and the offense was held to just 256 yards of offense against the Vols, including only 120 yards passing from quarterback Greg McElroy.
   
  The passing game is Alabama's weakest link. It ranks 93rd in the country in average yards through the air and has decreased in productivity almost each week this season. That lack of pop from the passing side of the playbook has limited star receiver Julio Jones. The talented sophomore had just 54 yards on seven catches against Tennessee and hasn't scored a touchdown since the end of September.
   
  Luckily for the Crimson Tide, running back Mark Ingram has put the offensive load on his stocky shoulders. The sophomore rusher has totaled over 1,000 yards on the year and is averaging 125 yards per outing with eight rushing touchdowns. Ingram ran for 99 yards against the Vols and can make a serious push for the Heisman Trophy with a dominant performance against LSU on Saturday.
   
  Ingram will be rushing against an LSU defense that is beginning to find its stride. The Tigers rank 15th in the nation in yards against, but in the past three weeks the stop unit has showed its claws. Louisiana State has allowed only 23 points in the last three games, most recently shutting out state rival Tulane last weekend.
   
  The Tigers have done a good job locking down opposing pass attacks. They have limited opposing quarterbacks to an average of 135 yards in the last three games, while giving up two touchdowns and picking off three passes. On the ground, LSU is averaging over 110 yards against in that same span – allowing 193 yards to Florida but just 26 rushing yards to Tulane. The Tigers haven't given up a rushing touchdown in four games and have just three against on the year.
   
  On the other side of the football, LSU's offense rebounded from a dismal showing against Florida three weeks ago. In the last two weeks, the Tigers have scored a combined 73 points on 831 total yards. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson is coming into his own, passing for four touchdowns and just under 400 yards in those wins. He's also rushed for 37 yards and a score during that span.
   
  The Tigers' rushing attack has been just as potent, totaling 389 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Running back Charles Scott got his game back on track against Tulane, finding the end zone twice on 112 yards. Heading into that matchup, the senior had back-to-back disappointing starts. Last season, Scott rushed for 92 yards and two scores against the Crimson Tide.
   
  The last three meetings between these rivals have played over the betting total, snapping a string of four straight unders between 2002 and 2005. Alabama boasts an even 4-4 over/under record but has played under the total in its last three contests. The Tigers have an over/under count of 2-6 this year and have finished below the number in four straight games.