SEC Football: 5 most important SEC West games for 2017
3. LSU at Alabama (Nov. 4)
The last time LSU beat Alabama was during the 2011 regular season, but the Tigers have given the Crimson Tide its share of challenges through the years. Last season’s 10-0 game wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter.
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In 2012, Alabama won on a screen pass to T.J. Yeldon for a 28-yard touchdown with less than a minute left in the game. Granted, Alabama traditionally plays better at Bryant Denny Stadium than Tiger Stadium, but it is worth noting the 2011 regular season loss came at Bryant Denny.
This will likely be another battle of stout defenses, with two of the best defensive coordinators in the country, Alabama’s Jeremy Pruitt and LSU’s Dave Arranda, calling the plays.
While both teams carry stability on the defensive side of the ball, both will have new offensive coordinators. LSU hired former Pitt OC Matt Canada. Head coach Ed Orgeron is hoping Canada will open up the offense, especially the passing game. Alabama hired Brian Daboll to replace Lane Kiffin. Some expect Daboll to move to a more run-oriented offense, but it seems the team has too much talent at wide receiver for that to be true.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the offense looks under his direction.