default-cbs-image

The biggest game of the weekend in college football sees the top-ranked team in the country head on the road into one of the nation's most hostile environments, and it will be in primetime on the SEC on CBS.

Alabama takes its 8-0 record into Tiger Stadium for a night game with an LSU team that's played inspired football since Ed Orgeron became the interim head coach. For the first time all season, Alabama is not a double-digit favorite in a game, as oddsmakers have the Tide as a touchdown favorite over the Tigers. There's plenty of respect for LSU's playing ability, and also there's the atmosphere of Death Valley at night that always must be factored into an LSU night game.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 5
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

TV: CBS
Live stream (computer): CBSSports.com (Simulcast and All-22 feed)
Live stream (mobile): Download the CBS Sports App

Storylines

Alabama: The thing that Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin will be preaching to the offense all week is ball security. The Tide will have full faith in their defense's ability to neutralize the LSU offense, which leans so heavily on the running game. Giving up easy points and field position against LSU is the fastest way to give the Tigers and their fans confidence, and make them believe that the upset can happen. No team in the nation is better at crushing an opponents soul like Alabama -- have you seen Tennessee since the Tide beat them? Against LSU, the Alabama offense has to take care of the football and not give the Tigers easy points.

LSU: The Tigers have to find a way to get plays over the top in the passing game. We've seen for years that if all you can do is run the football, no matter how well you've done it against everyone else, that Alabama will beat you. The weakness for Alabama, if there is such a thing, is in the back end of the secondary. The Tide are without Eddie Jackson at safety now and have corners that want to jump routes and get interceptions. If LSU's offensive line can give Danny Etling time in the pocket, the Tigers are going to have a few opportunities in this game for big chunk plays over the top. It will be up to Etling and his receivers to take advantage of those and convert them into points.

Players to watch

Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama: LSU loves to run the football. Alabama loves to stop people from running the football, and no one clogs up the middle of an offensive line better than Da'Ron Payne. He might not make the tackle, but most of the times you see a run between the tackles stopped at or behind the line, Payne is a big reason why. He's a load at 319 pounds and while he only has 17 tackles this season, he commands a double team on the inside and stacks up the line of scrimmage. That forces the back to cut back or try to bounce a run outside, which allows the Tide's linebackers and defensive ends to flow and make stops. If Leonard Fournette struggles like he did last year against Alabama, keep an eye on big No. 94 on the inside and watch him do his work.

D.J. Chark, WR, LSU: If LSU is looking for a big play threat over the top, Chark up the seam from the slot is probably the Tigers best bet. He leads the team with a 16.81 yards per reception average and with Eddie Jackson missing, LSU should try him on some seams and skinny posts in the middle of the field. If Chark can make a big play or two for the Tigers, in a game most expect to be a bit of a defensive struggle, it could tip things in favor of LSU.

Matchup to watch

Alabama's defensive line vs. LSU's offensive line: I feel like I put Alabama's defensive line against [Insert Team Name] in this spot every week, but that's because it's the fact of playing the Tide. If your offensive line cannot handle the Alabama defensive front, everything else is a lost cause. Alabama's defensive line is full of beasts and no team can apply pressure with a four-man rush better than the Tide. If LSU gets into third-and-long situations regularly where Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams are teeing off on the edge, Jonathan Allen can move inside and pass rush against some poor guard, it's a wrap for the Tigers. However, if the offensive line can hold up on early downs and keep them from getting behind the chains, this game will stay close.