Ranked Rivals Meet in Baton Rouge

Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Tiger Stadium.

The No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Baton Rouge to face the No. 14 LSU Tigers in the 91st meeting between the two programs. The Crimson Tide hold a 58-27-5 advantage in the all-time series. Their dominance is evident in recent history, as they have won 13 of the last 15 matchups. This Saturday marks the 25th time the teams will play while both are ranked in the top 15 of the AP Top 25 poll. Alabama also enters the game ranked in the top five of the College Football Playoff rankings.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin seeks his first victory over Alabama as a head coach. The former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator lost to Nick Saban five times previously. Those defeats occurred once while coaching Tennessee in 2009 and four times while at Ole Miss from 2020 to 2023. Kiffin’s home record provides a strong foundation for the Tigers, who have won 32 of their last 35 games at Tiger Stadium.

Alabama’s injury report presents a major challenge for the visiting team. Updates are expected through the week and potentially until warm-ups. Starting center Racin Delgatty has missed multiple games, and his absence has affected the offensive line. The unit has cooled after Alabama scored 49 or more points in consecutive wins over Florida State, South Carolina, and Mississippi State. The Tide have failed to reach 70 rushing yards in each of their last two games. They have also allowed 21 sacks in SEC play, ranking 14th among the league’s 16 teams. Coach Kalen DeBoer is awaiting news on star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and cornerback Zabien Brown.

LSU counters with a potent aerial attack. The Tigers posted the SEC’s most productive passing offense in October, averaging 339.5 yards per game across four contests. They went 3-1 during that stretch, losing by one point at Kentucky. LSU leads the conference and is tied for seventh nationally in passing yards per game at 318.0. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has improved his play, and transfer Jackson Harris has emerged as a key target. Harris has caught seven passes in the last five games, including four multi-touchdown performances. His 17.6 yards per reception rank fourth in the SEC.

DeBoer has performed well against ranked opponents. He is 21-8 against teams in the AP poll as a head coach. That .724 winning percentage is the fourth-best in AP poll history for coaches with at least 20 games. It trails Urban Meyer’s .746 and leads Kirby Smart’s .710. DeBoer has also won eight straight games following a bye, with his last loss in that scenario occurring in 2020 at Fresno State.

The matchup features quarterbacks Keelon Russell for Alabama and Sam Leavitt for LSU. While scoring potential exists, defenses may determine the winner. Alabama’s injuries have disrupted its offensive rhythm. LSU’s defense presents the toughest challenge for the Tide since their loss at Tennessee. Conversely, LSU’s passing game could lead to turnovers. Alabama’s plus-7 turnover margin is tied for 11th nationally. SportsLine’s model, which is 80-77 on top-rated college football picks this season, simulated every Week 10 game 10,000 times. The model favors a lower-scoring game with a slight edge for the home team to make plays late. The pick is the Under 52.5.