College Football: Power-Five Conference, Playoff Predictions

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Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims (6) is tackled by LSU Tigers defensive end Jermauria Rasco (59) during the fourth quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

SEC West

Alabama or LSU. This is the question.

The Crimson Tide and the Tigers out of Baton Rouge are the clear favorites to win the SEC West and I have gone back and forth on each one.

Alabama lost a ton of talent to the NFL, but it seems that they always lose a ton of professional talent and then they always end up winning the conference anyway.

The Crimson Tide also has one of the toughest road schedules in the nation.

LSU will have one of the best defenses in the nation and Leonard Fournette to run the ball, but the question is: Will the Tigers have a passing game?

I will remind you that this is the same program that was going to fire Les Miles just eight months ago.

Here are some key games within the SEC West to watch:

Key games:

Alabama at Ole Miss, September 17th
Alabama at Arkansas, October 8th
Ole Miss at Arkansas, October 15th
Ole Miss at LSU, October 22nd
Texas A&M at Alabama, October 22nd
Alabama at LSU, November 5th
LSU at Ole Miss, November 12th
LSU at Texas A&M, November 24th

At the end of the day, this division may come down to the Alabama-LSU match-up on November 5th. I want to take LSU because of their defensive talent, but I just can’t pick against Alabama especially when the Tigers have no proven commodity at quarterback.

Division Winner: Alabama

Next: ACC

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