It's Time by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, November 1st, 2012 @ 3:22 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  Step on up Bruce Buffer and give us the ol' "It's Time." Buffer does the introductions before UFC fights. If the name is familiar it's because Michael Buffer ("Let's Get Ready To Rumble.") is Bruce's half-brother. "It's Time" and "Let's Get Ready to Rumble," can both be used to describe Death Valley on Saturday night. It's LSU versus Alabama again. And it's going to be a war. There is no better trench warfare than when LSU's offensive and defensive lines battle with Alabama's offensive and defensive lines. Understandably, LSU fans are hesitant to do a lot of talking before this one. Alabama has looked invincible for the most part this season. LSU has crawled to the finish line on several occasions this season. One thing is for certain as far I can see. If LSU runs the ball on first down 95 percent of the time in the first half, the Tigers are going to be in trouble. If Zach Mettenberger misses receivers more than seven times in the contest, LSU is in trouble. If LSU has 10 or more penalties, the Tigers are in trouble. You don't give Alabama an extra down, you don't let the Tide off the hook and you don't let the Crimson Tide play nine guys in the box. The real Brad Wing has to show up, Drew Allemand cannot miss more than one field goal attempt and LSU receivers cannot drop more than two passes. If it sounds like LSU has to play a perfect game, you're close. Nick Saban will come out with a great game plan. I would not be surprised to see him go with the quick passes that were so successful in the BCS title game last season. LSU came out as a seven-point underdog to the Crimson Tide. That has creeped up to 10 points. You have to consider Tiger Stadium is worth three points, but oddsmakers must figure Alabama to be about 10 to 13 points better. Those kind of odds for a visiting team to LSU are unheard of - and certainly did not happen during Nick Saban's final two or three years at LSU. I don't see it ever happening at Alabama as long as Saban is in Tuscaloosa. That's a lot of points to give the Tigers at home. But guess what - if I was a betting man, I wouldn't touch it. Too many ifs. And just not enough firepower or imagination on offense. The Tide could very well cover by halftime.