Alabama and LSU is a great rivalry on the gridiron, but also must be given respect on the hardwood as both are the two hottest teams in the SEC heading into Tuesday’s tilt in Baton Rouge.
The Crimson Tide have won seven straight games, scoring at least 82 points in six of them with the lone exception coming against a Tennessee team that is third in the country in fewest points per game allowed. LSU’s four-game winning streak has also been authored by superb offense, averaging 86.5 points per game in that span.
For LSU, the defense has been suspect even during this run, allowing 76 or more points in three of the games, and for the season rank 104th among Division I teams in points allowed on a per-game basis while Alabama clocks in at 44th in that category.
Both teams feature four different players that are all averaging at least 12 points per game, but LSU features the better outside shooting as four of its top five scorers are converting at least 40 percent of their 3-point shots while Alabama has just one consistent rotation player shooting over 38 percent from the outside.
Free throws can often decide tight games and the Tigers have the edge as they are fifth in the country in made free throws per game and shoot 76.9 percent at the line, which ranks 24th.
With Yale transfer and versatile big man Jordan Bruner also ruled out for this game, LSU should defend its home court and salt away both the win and cover late.
The Play: LSU, -2.
