UNDER the Pick With Sky-High Alabama-LSU Total

You couldn’t have blamed football fans for marking this year’s Alabama-LSU game on their calendars at the start of the season. The teams will finally face off Saturday after their initial November 14 meeting was postponed – but don’t expect this one to be close, as the Crimson Tide (8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS) are four-touchdown favorites against a reeling LSU side (3-4 SU, 4-3 ATS).

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The look-ahead line for this game way back in the day had Alabama favored by less than a field goal – but you can forget all about that line now, with the Crimson Tide sitting at either -28 or -28.5. The total has fallen from 74.5 down to 71 in most spots.

Alabama News & Notes

No Nick Saban? No problem for the top-ranked Crimson Tide, who further solidified their place atop the NCAA football pecking order with an emphatic 42-13 victory over the Auburn Tigers. Steve Sarkisian, who replaced Saban with the legendary coach sidelined due to COVID-19, guided Alabama to its eighth straight victory, with all eight of them coming by 15 or more points.

With this year’s version of the LSU Tigers much less formidable than last season’s championship-winning squad, there are plenty of Alabama players worthy of daily fantasy consideration, starting with Najee Harris. The standout running back averages 6.0 yards per carry with 17 rushing scores, and should feast on a Tigers defense allowing 4.35 yards per attempt this season.

LSU News & Notes

The Tigers have completely fallen apart offensively, having averaged a pedestrian 14.0 points in their last three games. Those struggles came to a head in last week’s 20-7 setback to Texas A&M, with LSU turning the ball over three times while going just 2-for-16 on third down. LSU quarterbacks have combined to complete just over 60 percent of their attempts with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

And it gets worse: No. 1 wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. has opted out of the remainder of the season to begin preparations for the NFL draft. Marshall, who appears to be a first-round lock, led the team in receptions (48), yards (731) and receiving scores (10). Those looking for a DFS option here should consider tight end Arik Gilbert, who has 30 catches for 339 yards.

Betting Pick: UNDER 71 (-110)

This LSU offense has fired blanks for the better part of a month – and that isn’t going to change against a daunting Alabama defense still looking to make a statement entering the College Football Playoff.