By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
The seasons of two top 15 teams may be on the line in Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but EA Sports College Football 27’s simulation of the LSU-Alabama showdown has the evening coming up all Tigers. LSU controlled the game for almost 60 minutes in a wire-to-wire 46-24 victory over the Crimson Tide.
No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) and No. 5 Alabama (6-2, 4-2 SEC) kick off at 2:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium on Saturday (ABC).
LSU gained 590 yards of offense and could have done a lot more damage on the scoreboard had it not settled for four red zone field goals. Bama, meanwhile, totaled just 303 yards on the game as the Crimson Tide went 3-of-3 on third down and allowed quarterback Keelon Russell to be sacked six times. The 22-point blowout was gracious, even with all five of Alabama’s questionable starters on the field.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt’s exceptional form continued as he completed 30 of 41 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown, marking his sixth game in a row with a completion percentage above 71%. Leavitt said on Tuesday that he feels 100% for the first time since injuring his hamstring thanks to the bye week. While EA may not know that, it was certainly reflected by his 102 rushing yards and a score on nine carries.
A 73-yard touchdown run by Leavitt inflated both his individual total and the team’s 36 carries for 217 rushing yards. Running back Dilin Jones took 18 carries for 49 yards and two scores, and Harlem Berry had 37 yards and a touchdown on six attempts.
In the receiving game, wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. made a loud return to stardom. After posting 40 yards or less on four of his last five games, Watkins exploded for 129 yards on eight catches. Tight end Trey’Dez Green also had four catches for 44 yards in his second game back from a knee injury.
It was Jackson Harris who opened the game for both sides with an 11-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. The Tigers’ new WR1 finished with a team-high 10 receptions for 97 yards. Alabama responded before the end of the first with a 38-yard field goal from Conor Talty.
At the start of the second quarter, LSU took its first red zone field goal, and Scott Starzyk put one through the uprights from 28 yards out to give the Tigers a touchdown lead. Four minutes later, Berry made it 17-3, but Bama wide receiver Ryan-Coleman Williams quickly halved the LSU advantage with a 79-yard punt return. Starzyk hit two more field goals from 33 and 38 yards in the final two minutes of the half to put LSU up 23-10 at the break.
Jones reached the end zone on a pair of 1-yard runs in the third quarter while the LSU defense shut down the Tide and put the game out of reach. Another Starzyk 31-yard field goal at the start of the fourth made it 39-10 with 13 minutes remaining. Crimson Tide running back Kevin Riley scored a 2-yard touchdown run, but then Leavitt broke off his big score to restore the lead to 46-17 before Russell added a 15-yard touchdown on the ground in garbage time.
The Tide’s struggles in the run game continued. Its 64 yards on the ground would be its third straight with under 70 rushing yards as a team. Russell had 18 carries for 2 yards, and lead-back Daniel Hill totaled 39 yards on 10 attempts.
The passing game was better but still inefficient. Russell was 19-of-30 for 239 yards with an interception to cornerback PJ Woodland. LSU held Coleman-Williams to four catches for 40 yards, but Lotzeir Brooks and Rico Scott had five receptions for 71 yards and four catches for 72 yards respectively.
Defensively, safety Jhase Thomas led the tigers with seven total tackles. Defensive end Jordan Ross caused havoc on the edge, recording two sacks and a third tackle for loss on his five total tackles. D-end Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker TJ Dottery and defensive tackle Dominick McKinley each recorded a sack as well, and tackle Deuce Geralds and linebacker Tylen Singleton also split a sack.
Umanmielen, Ross, Leavitt and cornerback DJ Pickett each received a ratings boost before the LSU bye week. Umanmielen (92) is now just one point behind the top-rated Tigers, Green and left tackle Jordan Seaton (93). Leavitt is next at 91, followed by Pickett at 89. Ross is now an 87.
CFB 27 gives the team overall rating edge to the Tigers at 88 overall, ahead of Alabama’s 86 rating. The Crimson Tide, however, have the highest-rated player in the matchup in safety Bray Hubbard (94). Cornerback Zabien Brown is next at a 92 overall, and Coleman-Williams is tied with EDGE Yhonzae Pierre with a 91.
LSU Record vs. Simulated Games
Real Life: 6-2
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 45-14 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 32-24 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 35-6 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: 63-14 W vs. McNeese State
Week 6: 35-34 L at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-0 W vs Mississippi State
Week 8: 38-17 W at Auburn
EA Sports CFB 27: 8-1
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 38-36 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 24-13 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: No game vs. FCS McNeese State (W)
Week 6: 20-13 W at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-25 W vs. Mississippi State
Week 8: 45-29 W at Auburn
Week 10: 46-24 W vs. Alabama
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