Alabama has to to win in the Paint...

 Can 'Bama beat the Tigers?

    The teams which have given Alabama their biggest headache are teams which have a good big man inside.  LSU has a really good big man in Johnny O'Bryant III.  He is very big and quick. It's difficult to imagine how any one who  is 6-9 and weighs 250 lbs. can be that mobile. OB3 loves to post down low,  and if he gets the ball you are in a world of hurt. Alabama won a hard fought game earlier this season 82-80. The game was played in Tuscaloosa. Two things have changed since game one. First, LSU is a better team. Second, Alabama has developed some inside game in the form of Jimmy Taylor.  Alabama is coming off its best overall game when an absolute shellacking of Arkansas. LSU finished the regular SEC season at 9-9 in league and 18-12 overall. It was a very disappointing record if you talk with Tiger fans.  I haven't seen anyone who thinks they are dancing unless they win the SEC.

       Look at the SEC brackets from the LSU point of view. They know they can beat Alabama on talent, and they've proven they can beat Kentucky.  They beat the Cats in Baton Rouge and lost an over time heart breaker in Lexington. I wonder what the Tigers thought when they saw the Arkansas score. A lot of people called that win an upset. It didn't look like an upset to me. It appeared that Alabama dominated the Razorbacks in every way possible. Even Mike Anderson said, "I didn't see this one coming".  In tonight's game, the Tide seems to be playing their best ball of the season. LSU is playing well. The beat Vandy in Nashville. They also beat TAM. It should make for a good game.

      LSU is no one trick pony. They had two All-SEC players this year. OB3 and Jordon Mickey. He is 6-8 and weighs in at 220. He was voted on the second team. Finally, Jarell Martin, 6-9 245 was an All Freshman SEC selection. Mickey also made first team All SEC on the defense LSU can simply overwhelm you. The Tigers use their bulk to hammer you down in the lane. The guard play is not shabby either. Anthony Hickey and Andre Stringer are both quick and fast. They are both good shooters, and they can run the floor well.  The only real question in my mind is how did the Tigers lose so many games this season? On paper the Tigers seem almost unbeatable. On paper the Tigers should beat Alabama easily. As we all know the games are played on paper though. I don't think the Tide should beat the Tigers. I doubt the Crimson can play to great games back to back.  Logic dictates that conclusion. So why am I picking the Tide to beat the Tigers by 2? It is because the best five players don't necessarily make the best team. I think Grant has gotten his team playing as well as they can. If the Tide plays well they can win. They'll have to get on the boards and try to give up no second chance points.  They can't throw the ball in the bleachers on offense and expect to win. And they have to shoot the ball well. Alabama seems to have settled in with the 2-3 zone.  If they can keep the ball out of OB3's hands they can win. Just try to deny him as many touches as he normally finds and it will help. Double down on the big men, and hope that LSU doesn't light it up from the outside.  I'm looking forward for this game. I think the winner will beat Kentucky. 

Biggest play for Bama? Get JO3 on the bench early again.

LSU is a 2.5 point favorite according to the Vegas guys...