Biding the Tide

Tonight our No. 13 (AP) LSU Tigers face the No. 14 (AP) Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. LSU is at 11-3 and coming off a thrashing of the UConn Huskies, 66-49, Saturday at the PMAC. Alabama comes in at 13-2, limping in after opening SEC play with a loss at Arkansas, 88-61.

Alabama has the obvious home-court advantage, and one must also consider the physical status of Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who was involved in a car accident shortly after the UConn game Saturday. LSU coach John Brady said Davis is sore, and ESPN.com has reported X-Rays on Davis' ribs came back negative. Davis is expected to play.

Likely starting lineups for the two teams are as follows:

LSU

F - Glen Davis
F - Tasmin Mitchell
F - Darnell Lazare
G - Dameon Mason
G - Garrett Temple

Bama

F - Mykal Riley
F - Alonzo Gee
F - Jermareo Davidson
F - Richard Hendrix
G - Ronald Steele

Neither team has a "true" center in the starting lineup. Look for Alabama to use their size to their advantage and overwhelm the interior. All of their guys are capable of putting up 20+ points. I like Garrett Temple's defense against anyone, and while Ronald Steele is capable of putting up a big game, he's no J.J. Redick (flashes of March Madness, anyone?). I wouldn't be surprised to see a double-team on Davis at least early on. He is the only player on either squad averaging a double-double this season. Tasmin Mitchell will need to step up and help out with the scoring. Look for Tack Minor to come off the bench and change the pace of the game, tiring out the Tide while giving some one of the Tigers' starters a rest.

In the end I think Alabama is angry about their lackluster performance at Arkansas, and the question marks surrounding Big Baby's endurance with those sore ribs and knees are too much to ignore. He'll be pounded on the inside by Bama's big men, and it will be a close game, but Bama pulls this one out at home. Bama 68-63.