Players to Watch: LSU: LB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Patrick Peterson, QB-TB Russell Shepard. Alabama: RB Mark Ingram, PK Leigh Tiffin, CB/KR Javier Arenas.
Keys to the Game: The situation will be far more definitive for Alabama than for LSU when the teams meet in Tuscaloosa. If the Tide wins the matchup, it will win the SEC Western Division and play Florida, which has clinched the Eastern Division, in the conference championship game. On the other hand ... The Tigers, though they would hold the tiebreaker over the Tide should the two wind up with identical records, would still have some work to do. If the Tigers beat the Tide but lose one of their remaining conference games while Alabama wins out, Bama gets the division. Since LSU's loss to Florida, the Tigers have come back with wins over Auburn and Tulane by a combined 73-10 score. Alabama's offense has been going in the opposite direction, going from 38 points four weeks ago to season-lows of 22, 20, and 12 in the previous three weeks.
Notes: LSU leads the SEC in kickoff coverage, allowing an average of under 17 yards a return. The Tigers also lead the league in turnover margin at plus-9 ... TE Richard Dickson remains five behind record-holder Mitch Andrews in career receptions for a tight end. Andrew had 87 receptions. Dickson has 82 ... Over the past 22 games, Alabama has held 19 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and is giving up an average of 71 rushing yards per game ... Ingram leads the nation with 32 rushes of 10 or more yards, and has eight receptions for 10 or more yards. Of Ingram's 172 touches this season (153 rushes, 19 pass receptions), almost a quarter have gone for at least 10 yards. -- Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved
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