Rece Davis, Pete Thamel both pick Alabama over LSU

No. 4 Alabama and LSU will clash Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. It will be the first game since LSU parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly following the Tigers’ 5-3 start to the season.

These programs are going in much different directions this season, as the Tide have won seven consecutive games and look to be en route to their first College Football Playoff appearance under Kalen DeBoer. LSU, meanwhile, is riding out the season en route to hiring a new head coach.

Saturday’s meeting will mark the 90th meeting between the two historic programs. Alabama leads the all-time series 57-27-5 and has won 12 of the past 14 meetings. The Tide rolled over LSU 42-13 last season thanks to 185 rushing yards and four rushing scores from quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Ahead of this weekend’s game, ESPN‘s Rece Davis and Pete Thamel made their predictions on the ‘College GameDay Podcast.’ Both personalities are rolling with the Tide to win their eighth consecutive game.

“It’ll be interesting,” Thamel said. “There’s been the bye-week. You replace your play caller and replace your head coach and go in and test it in that cauldron of Tuscaloosa, where there’s a visceral feeling about the potential of this Alabama team as maybe being the most talented in the SEC. I don’t like LSU’s chance enduring all that change.”

College GameDay is rolling with Alabama to down LSU in Tuscaloosa

“They were like an uninspired team before, so it’ll be interesting to see Garrett Nussmeier and if there are any wrinkles in the offense with Alex Atkins calling it,” Thamel continued. “They certainly couldn’t block and the run game wasn’t very good to start the season, but I think the Tide will roll.”

After hitting the 300-plus passing yard mark in eight games last season, Nussmeier has yet to eclipse that number in eight games this year. LSU fans are hoping the switch to Atkins as the play caller could make a difference in how effective the quarterback is on Saturday and for the remainder of the season.

“I agree with you,” Davis said. “I do think LSU will probably play its most inspired game in weeks, because this would, maybe not a season-saver, but it would certainly be something that could put some Sab on the numerous wounds the Tigers have endured.”

“There’s been talk about how they haven’t been physical in practice, so they’ve been doing some things they haven’t done recently when Brian Kelly was in charge. So I think you’re going to see a team that comes out and tries to make a physical statement, but I’ll go Ty Simpson, those receivers and the defense creating enough negative plays for Alabama to get out with a win.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa. The game can be seen on ABC.