There's Gonna Be Lotsa Life in Death Valley Tonight

It's one of the dumbest things you can do in Wager World:

Play the big TV game because it's the big TV game.

If the numbers don't merit going there, then it should be enough to simply watch it for entertainment purposes only.

However, just this once, due to popular demand, we're gonna cave and offer thoughts on the big TV game.

 

You’d think with two decent defensive-minded teams, any game would go under the total. That won’t be the case this time when Alabama and LSU meet in Baton Rouge.

Bovada has listed the spread at a healthy but understandable Alabama -14 with the total at 53 and the moneyline a damn near prohibitive -550 on Alabama and +375 on LSU.

Why you should bet on Alabama ...

Well, for one, the Crimson Tide score at will. For another, they're coming off a bye week that allowed their banged up defense more time to recover.

Sophomore slinger Tua Tagovailoa has been phenomenal, even by Alabama standards. Dude's thrown for 2,066 yards with 25 touchdowns and no interceptions without taking a fourth-quarter snap this season.

 

Why bet on LSU ...

The Tigers are also coming off a bye week and are undefeated at home this season with a perfect 5-0 record and an average winning margin of 22.6.

LSU needs their defense to keep on keepin' on. Dudes are surrendering an average of just 15.1 points per game -- seventh-fewest in the nation -- allowing 27 or fewer points in each of its eight games. The bad news is, in the one game they surrendered 27 points, they fell, 27-19, to Florida in the Swamp.

 

Instant analysis ...

If there's any caveat to the fact that the Crimson Tide have been doing the juggernaut thing all season long, it's that their schedule is backloaded.

There are conceivably only three teams that have a realistic chance to upset them, and they're all coming up in November, starting with the Bayou Bengals.

It's doubtful LSU can stop 'Bama, so they're gonna have to try to keep up with them. They've got a shot, especially if Nick Saban goes with the reserves late in the game.

Total pick: Over 53

Result: Alabama 29 LSU 0 ... Under covers

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Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey

Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sports writing, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sports writer of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.