Alabama will look to take one step closer to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff in Week 11 with LSU coming to Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.
LSU is hungry and motivated following the firing of Brian Kelly. The Tigers, led by interim head coach Frank Wilson, will play loose and with nothing to lose at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Kalen DeBoer will be trying to prepare his team for an all-out war. A team having nothing to lose is exceedingly dangerous, especially against a team like the Crimson Tide that has everything to lose.
Alabama is riding a seven-game winning streak coming into Saturday night. The Crimson Tide is 5-0 in the SEC and likely two wins away from clinching a spot in the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.
Alabama has played every game like the Super Bowl since the loss to Florida State. That will have to continue against LSU. The Tiges would like nothing more than to spoil Alabama's season. The Crimson Tide can't clinch a playoff berth by beating LSU, but they would take another big step toward it with an eighth consecutive win.
Betting Odds for Alabama vs. LSU
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 6am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -10.5
Over/Under: 49.5
Moneyline: Alabama -400/LSU +315
Predictions from the Bama Hammer Team
Alabama is going to need to play well, even at home, to earn a victory. LSU is one of the most talented teams in the country, three losses be damned.
Kalen DeBoer is a perfect 3-0 after a bye week at Alabama. In a similar spot last year, the Crimson Tide blew out LSU 42-13 in Baton Rouge. While Ty Simpson won't terrorize LSU with his legs like Jalen Milore did the last two years, he is a better overall QB and can make all the throws while being able to pick up some key yardage with his legs.
While this game certainly could get weird - and LSU will undoubtedly throw the kitchen sink out there on Saban Field to try and pull the upset - Alabama is the better team. It's a clean sweep from the Bama Hammer team: Alabama beats LSU, likely by multiple scores, though a close game wouldn't be all that shocking.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 28, LSU 17
Josh Yourish: Alabama 24, LSU 13
Ron Evans: Alabama 31, LSU 17
Greg Bosworth: Alabama 31, LSU 17
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 42, LSU 10