3 bold predictions for Alabama football against LSU

Alabama football is gearing up for the biggest game of the season on Saturday night in Baton Rouge against LSU. This will be the first game of the season where Alabama will be fighting for its playoff lives. Even after losing two games, the Crimson Tide was still in the projected playoff field on Tuesday night.

That won't be the case if the Crimson Tide falls at Tiger Stadium. The margin for error has completely evaporated. Alabama must win its final four regular season games in order to make the playoff.

Did Alabama turn the corner by beating Missouri 34-0 two weeks ago before the bye week? Or did the Crimson Tide simply take advantage of a beat-up and overrated team? We'll get that answer in a little over 48 hours.

As usual on Thursday of game weeks, we like to get a little bold. Sometimes our bold predictions are good, oftentimes they are not. But they're always fun nonetheless.

3 bold predictions for Alabama football against LSU

3. Ryan Williams eclipses 100 yards receiving

Ryan Williams has had a special freshman season, especially considering he's only 17 years old if you hadn't heard. He's got 702 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, well on pace to break the Alabama freshman receiving yardage record.

But after a monster 177-yard performance against Georgia, Williams hasn't gone over the century mark in receiving yardage since then. He's had just two such games this season - Georgia, and the season opener against Western Kentucky.

I think Williams, coming off the bye week, will be locked in and completely unafraid of the raucous environment. In fact, I think he'll feed off of it.

Look for the talented freshman to further writ his name in Crimson flame with a big day that helps the Tide roll in Baton Rouge.

2. Alabama forces two turnovers

Garrett Nussmeier is a talented quarterback, but he has been prone to throwing some interceptions. He's been picked off nine times this year, including three times in LSU's loss to Texas A&M two weeks ago.

Alabama's defense under first year defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has been opportunistic. The Tide ranks 5th in the country in takeaways per game.

I'm not saying Nussmeier will throw two interceptions - maybe he throws one and Alabama recovers a fumble, but I do think takeaways will play a role in this game and the Alabama defense has been one of the best teams in the country at forcing takeaways.

1. Jalen Milroe has 400 yards of total offense

Jalen Milroe had a career game against LSU a season ago in Tuscaloosa. He threw for over 200 yards and rushed for 150 more. Coming off of a bye week, there isn't a more dangerous player in college football.

Milroe had a big game against Georgia coming off the first bye week of this season, and the second one came at a perfect time for a player who has - despite what he or the coaches say - been far less than 100% the last several weeks.

A&M gave LSU's defense fits with a running quarterback, and even with an extra week to gameplan for him, a fully healthy Milroe is a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. He'll hit some throws down the field, and he'll make some big plays with his legs to remind everyone who he is in the Bayou as he leads the Tide to a win over LSU.