SI Article: Duel between Mettenberger, McCarron could decide LSU-Alabama

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On Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, emotions will again run high when the No. 13 Tigers face the top-ranked Crimson Tide. For McCarron, this game is a chance to take one step closer to becoming the first quarterback in college football history to win three consecutive national titles. For LSU signal-caller Zach Mettenberger, who was arguably the best player on the field last autumn when these teams met, this is an opportunity to notch a signature win in his Tiger career -- and, in the process, to blast the race for the national title wide open.

"Zach played fantastic against us last year," Saban said. "He made some great throws. He stood in the pocket and got whacked a couple of times and still made very, very good throws when we pressured, and he completed the ball. They made a lot of explosive plays in the passing game."

"Our quarterback has to play well [on Saturday night]," said Miles. "I think we have to have balance, both run and pass, so that it becomes something that he can do routinely or without having to make great plays. And I think that it'll always be balance that allows us to really have the best quarterback play."

Miles believes the Tigers' biggest edge will come in the matchup between wideouts Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. and Alabama's cornerbacks. Landry and Beckham, two future NFL players, have a combined 1,891 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Even when Landry and Beckham are covered, Miles expects them to come down with the ball about 70 percent of the time. "We think that we kind of give them some challenges on the perimeter," Miles said. "We got a quarterback that can make the throw and several receivers that can get open in space. ... We think there is a matchup there that benefits us."

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