MARK EDWARDS

Give Tide slight edge over LSU

Auburn has struggled to run

I listened to one of those sports talk-radio shows this week. (I know, I know — they can kill your brain cells if you listen to them for too long.)

An Alabama fan had called and said Saturday's Tide-LSU game wouldn't be decided by the coaches and that the Nick Saban-Les Miles matchup didn't matter at all.

When asked why he thought Alabama would win, the fan said it was because of heart and the Crimson Tide is at home. When reminded that Alabama hasn't beaten LSU at home since 1999, the fan said there's one difference between now and the losses since then — Saban.

I think I know exactly what the guy means.

No. 3-ranked LSU (7-1) has a better and deeper team than No. 17 Alabama (6-2). In addition, the Tigers have a four-game win streak going against the Tide.

So, it's logical to pick the Tigers to win. But whatever Saban and his staff have done, this doesn't look like the Alabama of old — at least, the Alabama that played under Mike Shula.

I'm giving the Crimson Tide the benefit of the doubt because Saturday's game is in Tuscaloosa and because of Saban. ... Alabama 21, LSU 17.

Tennessee Tech (4-5) at No. 19 Auburn (6-3): The Tigers will roll over Tech and its first-year coach, Watson Brown, who was head coach at Austin Peay, Rice, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt and UAB. It's interesting to note that he played high school ball in Cookeville, Tenn., for Bucky Pitts, the former Hartselle High football coach. ... Auburn 35, Tennessee Tech 14.

Vanderbilt (5-3) at No. 18 Florida (5-3): The Gators have lost three of their last four. Vanderbilt won't go down easy, especially with the No. 14-ranked total defense in the country. ... Florida 21, Vanderbilt 10.

Troy (6-2) at No. 10 Georgia (6-2): Troy is playing exceptionally well after losing to Arkansas 46-26 and Florida 59-31 at the start of the year. The Trojans also have a win over Oklahoma State 41-23. Georgia has lost to South Carolina 16-12 and Tennessee 35-14. ... Georgia 31, Troy 24.

Louisiana-Lafayette (1-7) at No. 24 Tennessee (5-3): The Vols have played well the last month, except, of course, the big hiccup against Alabama in a 41-17 loss. That's the only defeat in Tennessee's last five games. ... Tennessee 45, Louisiana-Lafayette 7.

No. 23 South Carolina (6-3) at Arkansas (5-3): Under Houston Nutt, the Razorbacks always seem to play well when they're backed into a corner. They'll ride Darren McFadden (11th in the nation with 124.1 rushing yards a game) and Felix Jones (30th with 107.9 a game). ... Arkansas 28, South Carolina 24.

Northwestern State (3-5) at Ole Miss (2-7): This may be the Rebels' last chance of the season to pick up a win. ... Ole Miss 27, Northwestern State 10.

Florida State (5-3) at No. 2 Boston College (8-0): The Seminoles have fallen to Miami, Wake Forest and Clemson. Boston College is exceptionally good at stopping the run (second in the nation) and turnover margin (third in the nation), and it's hard to beat teams that do those two things well. ... Boston College 17, Florida State 10.

No. 7 Arizona State (8-0) at No. 4 Oregon (7-1): Oregon pours on about 44 points a game. Arizona State has a good but not great defense. The Sun Devils gave up 32 to Oregon State but no more than 20 in any other game. ... Oregon 35, Arizona State 28.

Nebraska (4-5) at No. 8 Kansas (8-0): Kansas has less football tradition than Nebraska has basketball tradition. This is only the second time Kansas has entered this game ranked when Nebraska was not. The other time came in 1952 when Kansas lost 14-13 at home. ... Kansas 37, Nebraska 28.

Last week: 8-2.

Overall: 70-20.