LSU at Alabama

Game of the Year - LSU played a great game for their lame-duck coach, Ed Orgeron, when they defeated Florida, 49-42, but then the Tigers went back to their ways that cost him his job in the first place, losing 31-17 at Mississippi two weeks ago. The Rebels jumped out to a 31-7 lead, and LSU managed to gain only 77 yards on the ground on 35 carries while giving up 266 yards rushing on 5.3 yards per carry. The Tigers fumbled four times, losing the ball twice, and Max Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier combined for 20 of 33 for 249 yards and a TD and interception. Alabama has rebounded in a big way from its loss to Texas A&M by beating Mississippi State, 49-9, and Tennessee, 52-24, and the Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS its last five games. Bryce Young completed 31 of 43 for 371 yards and 2 TDs with no picks against the Volunteers, and John Metchie caught 11 passes for 121 yards and 2 TDs. As a home favorite the Tide are on an 8-1 ATS run. Under Nick Saban, they are 28-10 ATS as a favorite in this range (21.5 to 31 points) and 19-10 ATS following a bye. College football big favorites in this range, after putting up 5+ very high scoring games hit at a 76% clip against the spread. The Tide covered last year as a 29-point favorite, 55-17, and I look for a similar result here. Take Alabama for my CFB Game of the Year.