Ed Orgeron projected his standard confidence for an LSU-Alabama week, but the interpretation was clear that this was a bit different.
The Tigers are four-touchdown underdogs after all. But Orgeron pointed to the experience gained in a 38-point beatdown in Baton Rouge last season, and a return to health for some players after a week off.
“A lot of these guys have experience playing Alabama," Orgeron said. "They’re looking forward to this.”
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THE GAME
LSU (4-4, 2-3 SEC) at No. 3 ALABAMA (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
- WHEN: 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6
- WHERE: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- TV: ESPN
- LISTEN: WWL AM-870, FM-105.3
One of the players getting back to the field is linebacker Micah Baskerville, who returned to practice on Thursday. Star freshman Maason Smith, however, has been "on crutches since Tuesday," Orgeron said. He's "very questionable," Orgeron said, though the team is hopeful he'll be able to get out on the field.
LSU's coach challenged his team to run the ball, stop the run, and tackle in space. They're tenets that Orgeron has harped on all year, but still have evaded the Tigers in multiple games. He also noted that he challenged the offensive line in that regard, and laid out the keys to pulling one of the larger upsets -- at least on the betting line -- in recent memory.
KEY 1: Turnovers ... "We can’t go on the road and turn over the ball. They’re plus-7, we’re plus-3. We’re not going to catch up to them. We've just gotta beat them in the turnover battle this game."
KEY 2: "We have to be able to run the football."
KEY 3: "We have to be able to stop the run and tackle."
KEY 5: "Win third down."
KEY 6: "When you get in the red zone with these guys you’ve got to score points, field goals are not going to cut it."
If the Tigers do all six of those things, will it be enough to upset Alabama? We'll have to wait and see. But the final one indicates how LSU will be if it gets into 4th down in the red zone against the Crimson Tide. Don't bet on any Cade York chip shots.
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MORE FROM ORGERON
ON SONI FONUA: He'll 'end up being a coach some day'
Orgeron is hopeful that his star defensive lineman Maason Smith can get on the field, but if not, Soni Fonua gets a chance to show what he can do. The veteran has impressed the outgoing coach with his abilities, and earned high praise ahead of the showdown with the Tide.
“It means a lot to Soni. He’s an older player. I think Soni’s going to end up being a coach some day. He takes his technique serious. He knows how to get on the line. He knows how to play at several different positions. Whatever you give him, it’s not too hard for him. And he’s going to seize this opportunity. If he has an opportunity to play, instead of Maason, I think he’s going to play very well.”
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ON THE RUN GAME
Tre Bradford has a lingering injury, but the rest of the running back room is healthy and is expected to play against Alabama. That includes freshmen Corey Kiner and Armoni Goodwin, sophomore Josh Williams and junior Ty Davis-Price. So how can the Tigers get back to running wild like they did against Kentucky and Florida?
“Obviously we’ve got to run inside and outside on these guys. We just can’t run one play. We’ve got to be able to get outside and use the speed and give them the ball, and throw them the football, and put the ball in our playmakers’ hands and let them make plays.”