By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – It seemingly comes around as often as Halley’s Comet.
That is, a three-loss LSU football team entering the Alabama game as a double-digit underdog, which is the case here Saturday at 6:30 p.m. when the 10-point underdog Tigers (5-3 overall, 2-3 SEC) take on the No. 4 Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC).
Not counting the 2020 COVID-19 year when the rearranged schedule moved LSU’s game vs. Alabama from its usual spot in early November to December 5, 32 seasons have passed since a three-loss LSU squad lined up against the Crimson Tide as a double-digit underdog.
But do you know what happened in November 1993 in Tuscaloosa against then No. 5 Alabama?
LSU, losers of its last 11 of 13 SEC games under third-year head coach Curley Hallman, scored a 17-13 upset as a 25-point underdog, ending the Tide’s 30-game unbeaten streak.
Flip to the present.
So, you’re saying there’s a chance.
Well, LSU assistant head coach/running backs coach Frank Wilson, named interim coach Oct. 26 when fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly was fired the day after then-No. 3 Texas A&M pounded the Tigers 49-25, has publicly pledged his allegiance to LSU’s running game.
“There’s a huge emphasis on running the ball. I promise you we will run the ball,” Wilson said earlier this week.
It doesn’t matter to Wilson that the Tigers rank 115th nationally in rushing offense, averaging just 106.3 yards per game.
It’s also a huge reason LSU is 83rd nationally in scoring offense. Opposing defenses know the Tigers can’t run, so they drop eight defenders in pass coverage and tee off on LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier when he can’t find an open receiver.
“I think it (running) allows us to be more effective in the pass game, where we have tremendous weapons that we haven’t utilized to the full potential for whatever reason,” Wilson said.
The Tigers’ offensive line has been porous all season. There’s some shuffling in the starting lineup vs. Alabama as versatile backup DJ Chester moves to left tackle where the Tigers’ top two players are hurt.
Will LSU suddenly find an offensive pulse? How much of a difference will tight ends coach/run game coordinator Alex Atkins make as the Tigers’ new play caller, replacing fired offensive coordinator Joe Sloan?
Wilson, upon a request from Tigers’ defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who was seeking a more physical practice, dialed up a 9-on-7 drill on Tuesday in which seven offensive players had to run plays against nine defenders.
“It was probably one of the most fun (practice) periods we’ve had this year,” LSU starting center Braelin Moore said. “That’s real football. Pads were popping, and there was just such a high energy.”
Tigers’ starting cornerback Mansoor Delane noted there were “a few more fights in practice, a little more of everything. . .we’re really hungry right now.”
More like starving. LSU hasn’t tasted victory in almost a month, when the Tigers won 20-10 at home vs. South Carolina on Oct. 10.
Alabama is on a seven-game winning streak after losing 31-17 at Florida State in its season-opener. While the Crimson Tide have climbed the rankings, they haven’t been overwhelming.
Three of Alabama’s five SEC wins have been by a single-possession victory margin. Though the Crimson Tide seem to dig deep in the fourth quarter, their offensive and defensive lines haven’t been as dominant this season as in the past.
Alabama is 114th nationally in rushing offense (118.9 yards per game) and 72nd in rushing defense (149.1 ypg allowed).
Second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer leans heavily on the throwing arm of junior quarterback Ty Simpson. An unknown at the start of the season, he’s placed himself squarely in the middle of the Heisman Trophy race, completing 177 of 261 for 2,184 yards and a remarkable 20 TDs to 1 interception ratio.
But because Simpson is the first SEC starting quarterback LSU has faced this season who isn’t a dual threat, run-pass-option operator, the Tigers may have a chance at success.
RPO QBs DJ Lagway (Florida), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) and Marcel Reid (Texas A&M) have averaged a combined 278 yards per game this season against LSU. They’ve also accounted for nine TDs (five passing, four passing).
The last stationary QB of note LSU has faced this season was when the Tigers limited Clemson QB Cade Klubnik to 230 passing yards and a TD in LSU’s 17-10 season-opening road win.
That victory suddenly branded the Tigers right out of the gate as a national playoff contender. But two months later, LSU limps into Bryant-Denny Stadium with an interim coach trying to pump his team full of fight.
“We expect nothing but their best,” DeBoer said earlier this week. “This is going to be a physical. It traditionally is, and it was last year.”
GO FIGURE
4: Straight wins this season by Alabama over Associated Press top 25 teams
8: Different offensive line starters for LSU this season
15: Of the last 22 games in which LSU has rushed for 125 yards or less, including seven games with 100 or less.
45: Passes defended (10 interceptions, 49 passes broken up) by LSU, the SEC leader in this category
84.5: Home stadium winning percentage for Alabama, the highest all-time in FBS history
668: Yards total offense (340 rushing, 328 passing, 8 rushing TDs) by former Alabama starting QB Jalen Milroe vs. LSU the last two seasons.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com