Alabama Crimson Tide vs Lsu Tigers Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

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Alabama Seeks Defensive Improvement Against LSU

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (16-3, 5-1 SEC) continue their quest for SEC dominance as they host the LSU Tigers (12-6, 1-4) on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala. While Alabama’s explosive offense has carried the team to the top of the standings, head coach Nate Oats is laser-focused on improving defensive consistency to elevate the team from contender to champion.


Alabama’s Offense Shines, Defense in Focus

Alabama enters Saturday’s matchup riding high after a 103-87 victory over Vanderbilt, showcasing the nation’s top-scoring offense at 90.9 points per game. The win marked the Tide’s sixth 100-point performance this season and their second consecutive game surpassing the century mark.

Aden Holloway and Mouhamed Dioubate led Alabama’s charge with 22 points each against Vanderbilt, while Mark Sears added 21 points and reached a career milestone of 2,500 points. Dioubate also grabbed 10 rebounds in a career night, earning praise from Oats.

“You kind of know what you’re going to get out of Mo,” Oats said. “He’s going to play hard. He’s going to be physical.”

Despite their offensive dominance, Alabama’s defensive performance against Vanderbilt raised concerns. The Tide allowed 56 points in the second half, prompting Oats to emphasize the need for improvement.

“We’ve got to be a lot better than that,” Oats said. “For a team that’s trying to go after a championship, you can’t give up that many points in a half.”


LSU Looks to Rebound

LSU is seeking to recover from a 68-57 road loss to Texas A&M, its lowest scoring output of the season. The Tigers struggled offensively, shooting just 36.2 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc. Turnovers were a significant issue, with LSU committing 18 giveaways that led to 19 Aggie points.

“Our turnovers were the issue,” LSU head coach Matt McMahon said. “We had empty trip after empty trip with turnovers. We were never able to recover.”

The Tigers’ offense is spearheaded by Cam Carter (17.6 points per game) and Jordan Sears (13.8), both of whom fell below their season averages against Texas A&M. For LSU to compete with Alabama’s high-octane offense, both players will need to elevate their scoring output.

LSU also faces the challenge of keeping up with Alabama’s relentless pace. The Tigers struggled against Texas A&M, allowing the Aggies to take 14 more shots (61-47). Alabama averages 64.4 shots per game, a stark contrast to LSU’s deliberate approach.

“You just can’t overcome that,” McMahon said of the disparity in field-goal attempts, “especially on the road.”


Key Matchups

Alabama’s Offense vs. LSU’s Defense: Alabama’s high-scoring lineup, led by Holloway, Sears, and Dioubate, will test LSU’s ability to contain perimeter shooters and dominate the boards.

Turnover Battle: Both teams rank near the bottom of the SEC in turnover margin, making ball control critical. Alabama and LSU must reduce unforced errors to maximize scoring opportunities.

Pace of Play: LSU will need to slow down Alabama’s transition offense to keep the game within reach. The Tigers cannot afford to let the Tide dictate the tempo.


Stakes

For Alabama, a win would maintain its stronghold on the SEC title race and bolster its national championship aspirations. LSU, meanwhile, is looking to right the ship after a slow start to conference play and find some rhythm in a tough road environment.

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Conclusion

Alabama’s explosive offense and relentless pace make the Tide the heavy favorite, but defensive lapses could open the door for an LSU upset. The Tigers, led by Cam Carter and Jordan Sears, will need to play near-perfect basketball to compete with Alabama’s potent attack. If the Tide can clean up their defense, they should have no trouble extending their SEC win streak and reinforcing their championship credentials.

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