It seems like forever since LSU last played a football game. The dust has finally settled since the Texas A&M loss that set off seismic changes within the LSU athletic department, and it is time to play a game again.
Alabama is a 9.5-point favorite to beat LSU on Saturday night in a game that will mark Frank Wilson’s head coaching debut for LSU.
Who would have thought that when the Tigers defeated Alabama in 2022, that three years later the coaching matchup would not be Brian Kelly versus Nick Saban, instead its Wilson versus Kalen DeBoer.
Wilson was the head coach at UT-San Antonio from 2016 to 2019 and at McNeese State from 2020-21. He has a career head coaching record of 26-40.
If he can win four in a row, LSU’s coaching search will be a short one, because Wilson will likely get the job.
Here are five things to look for when LSU and Alabama meet for the 90th time in a series that dates back to 1895.
LSU’s commitment to running the football
Wilson is a running backs coach. New offensive play caller Alex Atkins is a former offensive lineman at Tennessee-Martin. Atkins has also been a longtime offensive line coach on the college level. So what do you think LSU wants to do on Saturday night? Run The Football!
LSU’s run-pass ratio is 44-56%. Wilson and Atkins would like to see it much closer to 50-50. Expect freshman running back Harlem Berry to get plenty of carries. He ran it well against the Aggies in the first half two weeks ago, only to get one carry in the 2nd half.
Starting left tackle Carrius Curne is expected to play after suffering a leg injury in the fourth quarter in the loss to the Aggies.
Alabama’s run defense is 73rd in the country, while LSU is 124th in rush offense.
How will LSU’s DBs handle Alabama’s passing game?
The strength of LSU’s defense is its secondary, and they had mixed results against the Aggies' passing attack. They intercepted A&M quarterback Marcel Reed twice and ended up allowing 202 passing yards. 130 yards came after the catch, which is a high percentage.
On Saturday night, LSU will face the best quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. Ty Simpson has thrown for 2,184 yards. He has completed 68% of his passes and has thrown 20 touchdown passes, and only one interception.
He’s got two big-time receivers, Germie Bernard has caught 38 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns. Ryan Williams has 33 catches for 495 yards and three touchdowns.
LSU’s physicality
To simulate game-like situations, LSU used a 9-on-7 drill, which is nine offensive players against seven defensive players, and the defense is trying to stop rushing plays. The offense has offensive linemen, tight ends, and running backs, while the defense has D-linemen and linebackers. Wilson says it was a big success.
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“To see our team salivate and want to compete and want redemption if one or the other got the better, was certainly rewarding for us,” Wilson said.
Let’s see if LSU brings the physicality to Tuscaloosa.
Will Michael Van Buren get playing time?
Coach Frank Wilson has made it clear that Garrett Nussmeier is the Tigers' starting quarterback, but he left open the possibility that backup Michael Van Buren could be involved in the game plan because of his ability to run the football.
Alabama is 12th in the nation in pass defense. But they have had trouble with mobile quarterbacks. Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos rushed for 78 yards in the season-opening win over the Tide.
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia rushed for 58 yards, including a long of 36.
Missouri’s Beau Pribula had 61 yards rushing and a touchdown.
And South Carolina’s Lanorris Sellers rushed for 67 against Bama.
You get the pattern; mobile quarterbacks have had some success against Alabama’s defense. We will see if Van Buren gets a few snaps. But it might be just lip service from Wilson.
Tigers’ motivation
LSU has nothing to lose, and Wilson has tried to be the ultimate motivator.
Kalen DeBoer is 16-5 as the head coach at Alabama. But in four of those losses, Alabama was a double-digit favorite.
They are nearly a double-digit favorite this Saturday, and I expect the Crimson Tide will roll 31-24.