Odds Maker in Vegas Picks Bama! Boo!

Famous Odds Maker Kenny White is laying the odds down on Alabama in a close game and that has LSU fans,  saying "Are you kidding me?"   According to  the Vegas gambler,  he based his prediction on mostly statistics from this season.

Here are some that helped him place his betting odds:

" Alabama allows only 44.9 yards rushing per game while LSU allows 76.6 yards. Alabama leads the nation with only 6.9 points scored against per game with LSU not far behind at 11.5.

They’ve had two common opponents this season, each easily disposing of Florida and Tennessee.  LSU has beat five ranked opponents to Alabama’s three, suggesting that the Tigers strength of schedule should bode well for them.

The Tigers won impressively in back-to back road games earlier this year at Mississippi State and West Virginia while Alabama beat a punch-less Penn State offense and Florida on the road with a quality win against Arkansas at home.

Then we have the great storyline of current Alabama coach Nick Saban who won a national title for LSU in 2003 before leaving for the NFL.  Saban won a title for the Crimson Tide in 2009 and has split the four meetings since coming back.

Current LSU coach Les Miles has done a great job over his tenure despite constant criticism trying to coach in the shadow of what Saban did for them while in charge.  It also hasn’t helped that Miles has a few clock management gaffes over his reign to irk many of the Bayou supporters.

Alabama would seem to have a slight edge in coaching, along with home field and the best player in the nation with Trent Richardson running for them. First year starting quarterback A.J. McCarron has done what Saban has asked of him, which is ‘just don’t make any mistakes.’

McCarron really hasn’t been put into a spot where he’s been asked to win the game and you’d have to think at some juncture that he is going to have to make some plays in key moments. This should be the major key to the game in deciding who wins and loses, and for Vegas purposes, who gets the money.

I’ll take the coach, his defense, the home field and Richardson in this one and feel comfortable laying the points. And if Stanford loses to Oregon November 12 and Oklahoma State falls to Oklahoma December 3, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing these two teams go at it again on a neutral field for the title.

Whoever loses this game shouldn’t be penalized too much despite the loss coming later than the likes of an Oklahoma or Oregon.   The pick:  Alabama 27, LSU 16."

Personally,  I think this game is too close to call,   but  LSU  -   hungry for another national title -  will figure out a way to shut down Alabama's running game - knowing they're vulnerable passing.  It will be defensive,  low-scoring,  and won based on the number of penalties and turnovers for either team.

In fact,  I'm wearing LSU purple and gold all weekend.  Here's a picture at today's tailgate party at Townsquare Media,  Shreveport.

We all dressed up in LSU attire and started our partying early with finger foods and fellowship. Yes, we have fun at work.  But with No. 1 LSU about to Roll back the Tide, who wouldn't be Tigering up?

Check out the entire story from the crazy odds maker in Vegas.

http://www.gamingtoday.com/articles/article/33200-NCAA_Football_s_Richardson_gives_Alabama_edge_on_LSU