Les Miles used to say that opponent’s dreams come to die in Death Valley, but the new look Tigers will be facing a team that many coaches around the country are have nightmares about.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will square off against one of its SEC east rivals this Saturday as the No. 1 ranked team in the land heads to Death Valley to take on the No. 13 LSU Tigers.
Alabama (8-0) and LSU (5-2)have taken much different paths on their ways to this much anticipated matchup, but both teams are playing their best brands of football so far in 2016.
The Crimson Tide is coming off a much needed bye week, following its dominating win over Texas A&M 33-14, and by many accounts is playing on a much higher level than any other team in the country.
Led by true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, and the most feared defense in the country, the Tide is averaging just under 44 points a game and is outscoring its opponents by an average of 29 points.
On the other sideline, the Tigers are looking to put an end to its current five game losing streak to the Tide. Interim head coach Ed Orgeron has steadied the ship in Baton Rouge and has this Tiger team looking like the one we all thought we’d see in the preseason when the Tigers were ranked No. 5 in the country.
In their last three games since former head coach Les Miles was let go, the Tigers are averaging over 40 points a game and are limiting opponents to an average of 12 points a game.
As is the case every time the Tide and Tigers strap on their pads and go head to head, this game will be physical and full of emotion. Both teams posses All-SEC talent and elite coaching, and with College GameDay being in Baton Rouge, it should only amplify the atmosphere in Death Valley.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. EST and will be aired on CBS, with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson on the call.