College Football Picks: LSU vs Alabama Best Bets
Kick off the 2025 college football season with a DraftKings Promo Code for $200 instantly on a $5 bet! RotoWire has plenty of college football betting tools and info to keep you in the loop this season. From the latest college football odds to college football futures and Heisman odds, we have you covered.
Alabama and LSU meet for the final showdown in their yearly rivalry which dates back to 1964. After 61 years, the conference expansions have forced each SEC team into just three yearly matchups in which one of the most entertaining games of the year for the last 20 years is no more. Coming down to the final stretch of the season, both teams have come a long way to get to this game.
LSU hasn't had quite the season that they had hoped, which led to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly two weeks ago following the loss to Texas A&M. With Kelly out, former running backs coach and assistant head coach Frank Wilson has taken over for the rest of the season. Wilson has previous experience as head coach while at UTSA from 2016-2019 and McNeese State from 2020-2021 before joining Brian Kelly's staff in 2022.
Alabama, on the other hand, opened up the season with a loss to Florida State but has since gone on a seven-game winning streak, including a mid-season gauntlet that included four straight games against ranked opponents. Both teams are fresh off a bye week clash on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa for what should be another exciting affair in the final edition of their 61-year rivalry.
LSU vs Alabama Betting Odds for Week 11
Spread: LSU +10.5 (Caesars Sportsbook); Alabama -10 (Draftkings Sportsbook)
Moneyline: LSU +300 (BetMGM); Alabama -365 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Total: Over 49.5 (ESPNBet); Under 49.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
LSU vs Alabama Betting Picks for Week 11
LSU got off to a hot start to the season, opening up 4-0 but has since dropped three of the last four. One of the main storylines throughout the year has been the offensive struggles; however the defense has slid a bit lately over the rough four-game stretch as well. Over the first four games of the season, the defense allowed an average of just 9.3 points per game, in the last four games, that number has jumped to 28.5.
The offense for LSU has been confounding this season, as in the preseason, LSU was thought by many to have one of the better offenses in the country, and that the defense would be the big question mark. That has not panned out as the Tigers currently sit at 12th in the SEC, averaging just 25.5 points per game.
Much of this has been due to inconsistent play from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier was one of the big reasons why there were such high hopes for the LSU offense coming into the season. Nussmeier was one of the odds leaders in the preseason for the Heisman Trophy and was projected by many for a huge year. The LSU offense has also sputtered at times as the Tigers have struggled to establish a running game. They sit at 15th in the SEC with just 106.3 rushing yards per game. Nussmeier's struggles have also played a role in the recent losses, as in LSU's three losses he has averaged just 196.7 yards per game while throwing a combined four touchdowns and three interceptions.
On the other hand, after Alabama started off the season with an embarrassing loss to Florida State, the Crimson Tide have righted the ship and gone on a run that has boosted them to #4 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Alabama has done so with both an efficient offense and defense. The Crimson Tide defense currently sits at fifth in the SEC in total defense and points per game, allowing 312.1 yards per game and 18.3 points per game. Much of the defensive success has been due to a passing defense that ranks second in the SEC allowing an average of just 163 yards per game through the air.
The Crimson Tide offense is led by Ty Simpson, who was a bit of an unknown commodity coming into the season as he has sat behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe the past three seasons. Simpson has since burst onto the scene, boosting himself into the top three in current Heisman odds, while becoming just the third quarterback in college football history to throw for 20 or more touchdowns with just one or fewer interceptions. While the passing game ranks second in the SEC, averaging 291.6 yards per game, the running game has been a glaring issue for Alabama. The Crimson Tide rank 14th in the SEC in rushing, averaging 118.9 yards per game and are rushing at a clip of just 3.6 yards per carry.
LSU vs Alabama Expert Pick: LSU +10.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
LSU vs Alabama Predictions for Week 11
LSU has struggled throughout SEC play with a record of just 2-3. However, with the firing of coach Brian Kelly and an extra week to prepare during the bye, it throws a massive curveball Alabama's way. The Tigers have as talented a roster as any team in the country, but have underperformed to this point of the season. I would expect to see a lot of new looks from the offense that is no longer under the guidance of Brian Kelly.
I also expect to see a team playing inspired football after getting rid of their head coach who has seemingly burned many bridges across the LSU organization. Alabama more than likely still wins this game, but I would think some new wrinkles and different looks from a talented offense will keep the Alabama defense off-balance. LSU's defense that started the year as well as any defense in the country will likely come together and play with a lot of energy.
Alabama 27, LSU 21
LSU vs Alabama Player Props for Saturday, November 8th
Garrett Nussmeier Under 225.5 Passing Yards
The Crimson Tide defense has been extremely good against the pass. I would expect this to continue against Nussmeier, who has struggled at times this season.
Ty Simpson Under 274.5 Passing Yards
Much like Alabama, LSU has also had a very good passing defense through out the year, averaging just 191.1 passing yards per game. The defense is also anchored by projected first round pick in cornerback Mansoor Delane. The Crimson Tide will likely rely on Ty Simpson to move the ball but I think 275 yards might be a bit too much in this one.
