Key Points:
- Nick Saban warned Alabama that LSU could be dangerous despite the Tigers’ recent coaching changes.
- The former Crimson Tide coach called the matchup a “scary situation” because of LSU’s unpredictable energy.
- Alabama’s inconsistent rushing attack remains a major concern as it looks to maintain playoff positioning.
ESPN “College GameDay” analyst Nick Saban spent 28 years as a college football head coach. He had an overall record of 297-71-1 and won seven national championships. Six came with the Alabama Crimson Tide and one came with the LSU Tigers.
Now, his two former teams face off in a Week 11 showdown. The No. 4 Crimson Tide enters the game looking to bolster its resume for the College Football Playoff committee, while the unranked Tigers play their first game since firing head coach Brian Kelly. After entering the season as national championship contenders, all the hype surrounding LSU has died off.
However, during a Friday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban warned Alabama that even though LSU is struggling, this game should not be taken lightly.
“I think that it’s a very scary situation because it’s very unknown to them how is LSU’s team going to react to this,” Saban said. “What changes are they gonna make? Their players have nothing to lose… So are they going to play free and easy and just go out and try to play the best football they can, and they probably feel a little disrespected.”
The Crimson Tide is currently a 10.5-point favorite according to ESPN BET. At 7-1 and riding a seven-game winning streak. A loss would be a major setback and raise questions on whether Alabama truly deserves a College Football Playoff spot.
Nick Saban Addresses Alabama’s Run Game
Throughout the first eight games, the Crimson Tide has struggled to establish a true rushing attack. They rank 14th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (118.9). Alabama’s leading rusher, Jam Miller, has racked up just 308 yards and two touchdowns on 80 carries this season.
Saban addressed those struggles, saying, “Their inability to create consistency in the running game makes this a pretty good matchup for LSU. Their defense vs. Alabama’s offense. It’s gonna be a really interesting game to see how LSU’s team responds.”
A failure to run the ball consistently only puts more pressure on quarterback Ty Simpson, and it’s an area the Tigers can exploit. After already suffering an upset in Week 1 to Florida State, Alabama must avoid overlooking or playing down to another opponent.
Kickoff is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Bryant-Denny Stadium, airing on ABC.