Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets: Can Crimson Tide conquer Baton Rouge at night?

Fasten your chinstraps, college football fans. Alabama faces LSU in Baton Rouge at night on Saturday. It will be one of the most electric atmospheres of the season.

Alabama (6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS) already has lost two SEC games, but it could get a marquee win in head coach Kalen DeBoer's first season by topping the Tigers (6-2 SU, 3-5 ATS) in prime time.

The Crimson Tide have dominated this rivalry, going 11-2 against LSU since the 2012 BCS Championship game that they won. However, when they met in Baton Rouge two seasons ago, LSU scored a 32-31 win.

Alabama is a three-point favorite, and the total is a lofty 58 points. Here are our Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets.

Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets

LSU +3 ( -110 odds at BetMGM Sportsbook )

Caden Durham rushing yards over 42.5 ( -114 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook )

Jalen Milroe anytime TD ( -170 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook )

Note:

It is hard to imagine the loser of this game having a chance to be selected for the College Football Playoff's 12-team field , so there will be a sense of desperation added to the general hatred of this rivalry.

Alabama has lost twice and will be out of the running for the SEC championship game with another loss. Alabama's national championship odds also would take a huge hit with a loss.

With only one conference loss, LSU has a straightforward path to qualifying for the conference title game, but a loss Saturday would complicate those hopes. That's the motivation that can put a team over the top.

The Tigers have a few trends on their side, too. Since 2016, LSU is 16-6 SU when playing a team it lost to the previous season. The Tigers are also 14-3 ATS in their last 17 conference games following a road loss.

Last but not least, in games featuring two ranked teams since 2017, home teams are 186-91 SU.

This is not the same Nick Saban-guided Alabama juggernaut of the last 16 years. The Crimson Tide got a big win over Georgia but also lost to Vanderbilt and looked shaky in a narrow victory over South Carolina.

With revenge on its mind and a potential SEC championship berth on the line, look for LSU to cover the +3 points and maybe win outright.

LSU's running game ranks last in the SEC with 115.3 yards per game, but it has been good in some key conference games. It will have a chance to do well again Saturday against Alabama's defense, which ranks third-worst in the league against the run.

Tigers freshman RB Caden Durham has had some clunkers in his first season, but he also has had some big performances. He ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a win over South Carolina and for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Arkansas.

Speaking of running games, look for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe to perform well on the ground. Milroe has 12 rushing TDs this season and has scored in every game but the loss at Tennessee.

In last season's game against LSU, Milroe rushed 20 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns. The juice is high on his anytime TD prop for this game for a reason. He's going to find the end zone Saturday.

Alabama vs. LSU moneyline odds analysis Why Alabama could win as the favoriteBest odds: -138 at FanDuel Sportsbook

Following a three-week stretch that featured two losses and one too-close-for-comfort win, Alabama righted the ship with a 34-0 victory over No. 21-ranked Missouri. If the Crimson Tide truly turned the corner last week, they will be well-positioned to beat LSU on Saturday.

Alabama's defense was great against Missouri, and its offense returned to the level it had early in the season.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is coming off a three-interception game against Texas A&M. If Alabama can make some big defensive plays early, it could force doubt into Nussmeier's mind. That's a terrible mentality for a quarterback.

Why LSU could win as the underdogBest odds: +125 at bet365 Sportsbook

The Tigers are the second-best passing team in the SEC with 332.8 yards per game but the worst rushing offense. The bonus this weekend is that Alabama has been average against the run. Even in last week's shutout win over Missouri, the Crimson Tide allowed 167 rushing yards.

That bodes well for LSU's offense to succeed on the ground. When the ground game is successful, the passing game opens up. The Tigers haven't had a lot of balance on offense, but they should Saturday.

That's how you win in the SEC.