Scoring Defense: Bama is ranked 4th at 14.9 ppg and LSU is ranked 5th at 15 per. The best scoring offense Bama has faced is A&M at 38.4 ranked 22nd. Bama gave up 14. The best scoring offense LSU has played is Auburn ranked 27th at 36.3 ppg. LSU gave up 18. Rushing defense: Bama is the best in the country at run defense at 70.8 yards per game. LSU is 8th at 104.8. The best rushing offense Bama has faced is A&M ranked 13th at 249.1 per game. Bama gave up 114. The best rushing offense LSU has played is Auburn ranked 3rd at 303.4 per. LSU gave up 154. Passing defense: Bama's pass defense gives up 204.4 and is ranked 32nd. LSU is ranked 42nd but only gives up 209.7. Very close here. Both teams best passing opponent is Ole Miss ranked 13th at 325.4 ypg. Bama gave up 421 to Kelly. LSU gave up 218. Scoring Offense: Bama is ranked 8th at 43.9 ppg. LSU is ranked 61st at 29.9 ppg (41.7 under Yawyaw would rank 12th). The two best scoring defenses Bama has played are A&M ranked 20th at 19.8 and Kent State ranked 52nd at 26 per. They put up 33 and 48 respectively on those two, both at home. The two best scoring defenses LSU has faced are Wisky ranked 3rd at 14.6 and Auburn ranked 8th at 16 per. LSU scored 14 and 13 with both on the road. (Under O the best scoring D was Southern Miss ranked 66th at 27.6, ouch Mizzou was next ranked 88th, double ouch) LSU is by far the best scoring defense Bama has faced this year based on all teams played. Rushing offense: Bama ranks 11th in rushing at 264.8. LSU ranks 20th at 239.9 per. Bama's best run defense opponent is Kent State ranked 44th at 145.9 per. Bama had 285. Power 5 best was USC ranked 62nd at 161.6. Bama had 242. LSU's best run defense opponent is Wisky ranked 12th at 109 per. We had 126. Passing Offense: Bama ranks 64th passing at 233.3, while the Tigers are 105th at 183.9. Best passing D against Bama is Kent State at 204.8 ranked 33rd, they had 217. Tennessee is ranked 37th at 206.3 per game, bama had 185. LSU best passing D faced is Southern Miss at 172.5 ranked 11th, we had 276. Wisky is ranked 23rd at 192.1 per, we had 131 with JJ Jr. What does all of this mean? It means it will likely be a low scoring, punch you in the face slugfest that we have come to love between these two teams. Etling and the line are the key to this game. If we can throw successfully it will open up everything else. If we can't throw the ball it may be a long night. If we have success running the ball it won't be close, like win by 10 or more. How's that for a prediction?
GAWD! I hope so!!! It certainly appears that way when you look at the two teams. You take one group, like the RB corps, and you give LSU a nod. Take WR's, and that goes to Bama. DB's to LSU, DL to Bama. It breaks pretty damn even this year—like other ones. All that said it looks like a day to get things done around the house and casually keep up with games (IE: ATS, O/U's). I would have liked to see UK with a win over UGA ... but that's going to be a game on a monitor in the background.
I love stat comparisons, these are the kinds of posts I like to see here before a game. Thanks @TheRealist , well done
I think LSU exposes a one dimensional offense by shutting down the limited pass game and slowing down the run game. I think LSU does better running the ball by opening up the field; Ensminger is going to throw the ball and then lanes open and Fournette shows why he is a generational back. Lots of quick throws to counter Bama's DL. This might be a blood bath in our favor. I drank some kool-aid this morning.
