The Alabama Crimson Tide lost a defensive slugfest versus the LSU Tigers at home in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The final score was 9-6 that ended in overtime, but Bama missed four field goals in the game. This left many unsure of who has the better team. 

Brian Johnson

The Tide got owned last weekend by South Carolina, and so far this week they've been riddled with more bad news. Wide Receiver Julio Jones required surgery on his left hand, which included having to get a plate and screws put in. It is uncertain whether he will be able to go on Saturday. Starting OT DJ Fluker is also out with a groin injury and is not expected to play against the Rebels.

The good news for Bama is they are playing Ole Miss. Jeremiah Masoli may have been able to go wild in the PAC 10 and stand out as one of its top players, but he is now playing in the SEC and has been neutralized. He has nearly thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns. The most interceptions he ever threw in the PAC 10 were 6 for an entire season. Well, he's only one away from tying his career worst with 5 and his 6th is likely to come this weekend against the Tide. It's amazing how he went from Heisman hopeful in the PAC 10, to not even making a highlight reel since joining the SEC.

If Alabama was playing a more formidable opponent this weekend, I would think there is reason for Tide fans to worry. However, I believe the Tide will bounce back and crush Ole Miss in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. What do you think? Will the Crimson Tide be able to bounce back and defeat the Ole Miss Rebels?

Brian Johnson

Andrew Luck of the Stanford Cardinal has led the Heisman Trophy race for the entire 2011 season, however, Trent Richardson from the Alabama Crimson Tide has been catching up with him amongst actual Heisman voters.

This weekend, the Crimson Tide will face one of the nation's most vaunting defenses in the LSU Tigers. If Richardson is able to have a big game and lead the Tide to victory, will he be able to steal the lead from Andrew Luck in the Heisman Trophy Race?

Heisman Trophy

Both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers have two weeks to prepare for each other because both teams have bye weeks in week 9. The two week preparation should lead to the best game of the season when the Tigers visit Tuscaloosa in the first weekend of November. Currently LSU is #1 in the BCS and Alabama is #2. The winner of this game will be the undisputed #1 team in the nation.

LSU Fans

The Alabama Crimson Tide's Trent Richardson made an amazing 76 yard run this weekend against the Ole Miss Rebels. As a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy Award, many have called this play his "Heisman Moment." Check out the video provided, do you agree?

Heisman Trophy

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer)—There's a recruit that's been committed to Alabama since October, and he hasn't gotten the fanfare that commitment deserved. On some scouting services, he has no ranking, and he's only a 3-star commit.

But why did Auburn, LSU and so many others want him so badly when he hasn't really become a household name among recruits?

His name is Caleb Gulledge, and he's from that hotbed of Alabama recruiting, Prattville, Al., that has given Alabama so much talent in the past.

So why has he not been rated higher? Mainly because he's caught between positions and hasn't made his mark at just one yet.

He's played both offensive and defensive tackle, and most scouting services don't know where to place him. Some think he'll be a defensive tackle, and others think he will wind up playing as an offensive guard. This year he will split his time yet again.

Gulledge, however, takes things in stride and trusts that the coaches at Alabama will put him in the right place. Though he prefers defense, the big 6'4", 270-pound high school senior said he'd be happy playing either position, whatever his team needed.

Such unselfishness and the fact that he was willing to pull the trigger so early for Alabama shows the Crimson Tide have landed themselves a prize recruit who is working each day to help bring other great talent into the 2012 class along with him.

Gulledge says that he is working hard this summer to muscle up some more and continue to work on his footwork and technique.

Gulledge was Bama's second commitment to the 2012 class, and since then his buddy and playing partner since elementary school, Justin Thomas, has signed on to play with the Tide too. Thomas is listed as an athlete and like Gulledge can play a variety of positions.

Together both of these young men are trying to bring yet another teammate along with them to Alabama in the person of another defensive lineman, Justin Shanks. If they succeed, that's quite a Prattville connection on the team.

The Tide already have other players from Prattville in Nick Perry, a sophomore defensive back, and Nick Gentry, a senior defensive lineman.

Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.com

Jeff Evans

The Alabama Crimson Tide were defeated by the LSU Tigers 9-6 in overtime in front of their home crowd. However, despite the loss, they remained ahead of the undefeated Stanford Cardinal in the BCS Rankings. Was this just?

Brian Johnson

This might be the question of the year because the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers defenses are both top notch units and any team would be lucky to have either.

So what do you think? LSU vs Alabama: Who has the better defense?

Related Polls:

• LSU vs Alabama: Who ends up #1 after they meet?
  

Brian Johnson

On January 9, 2012, the Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the LSU Tigers for the 2011 BCS Championship Title. Following the game, several Bama fans visited a Krystal's burger restaurant and found an extremely intoxicated and unconscious LSU fan laying his head on a counter. As can be seen in the video, Bama fans begin to harass and play pranks on the guy. 

Brian Johnson

Through week 11 of the 2011 college football season, the Oregon Ducks find themselves ranked number four in the BCS rankings and one place behind the Alabama Crimson Tide. Both teams have one loss and are contending for a spot in the BCS National Championship. The two both lost to the same opponent, the LSU Tigers. 

Brian Johnson

In the final weekend of the regular 2011 college football season, the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Auburn, AL to play the #24 Auburn Tigers in the 76th Iron Bowl. Currently, Alabama leads the series 40-34-1. 

Auburn Fans

There is no doubt Trent Richardson is a great running back, but his Alabama Crimson Tide hasn't faced a defense like the LSU Tigers this season. Richardson has rushed for over 100 yards in six of eight games. Will he be able to do it again?

LSU Fans

The Florida Gators were finally able to emerge from their offensive slump as Freshman Trey Burton took over their game against Kentucky and scored an SEC record of 6 Touchdowns over the passed weekend. The Gators had struggled offensively in their first three games of the season, something unprecedented and unexpected in the Urban Meyer Era. However, it seems as though they may have resolved their offensive struggles just in time as they go into Tuscaloosa to take on the Tide this Saturday. It will mark the first game the Gators enter as underdogs since 2007.

Alabama, on the otherhand, did not seem as dominant as they had in the first three weeks of the season against the Arkansas Razorbacks. If Ryan Mallett did not throw two ill-advised interceptions when the Hogs had the lead with less than six minutes to go, then Alabama may have lost its first regular season game in 3 years. Ironically, the last time they lost in the regular season was to Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators. Mallett seemed to be able to exploit Bama's young DB's for much of the game, but they were able to pull it together when it mattered the most.

Who will win this weekend? Will Trey Burton be able to take over the game against Alabama and go Touchdown Crazy, or will Mark Ingram and the Tide wear out the Florida D and continue their regular season winning streak?

Brian Johnson

The Oklahoma State Cowboys finished 3rd in the Final BCS Standings even though they blew-out the #10 Oklahoma Sooners in their final game of the season. They were ranked behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and will not go to the BCS National Championship Game at the Sugar Bowl.

Brian Johnson

The way the current system is playing out seems unfair to me. In week ten of the 2011 college football season, the LSU Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa, AL and beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime. Therefore, LSU was able to win the SEC West over Bama. 

Brian Johnson