Leonard Fournette
Leonard Fournette leads the nation in rush yards heading into a clash with Alabama. Getty

The No. 4 LSU Tigers (7-0, 4-0) visit the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1) in a conference matchup with College Football Playoff implications. The first College Football Playoff Rankings have both teams in the top four, with LSU at No. 2 and Alabama No. 4.

The Tigers are seven-point underdogs, but look to beat the Tide for the first time since 2011. LSU control their own destiny in the SEC and the national playoff picture as the only undefeated team left in college football’s most elite conference.

LSU running back and Heisman Trophy favorite Leonard Fournette enters the matchup as the No. 1 rusher in the nation (1,352 yards) and tied for second in touchdowns (15). Fournette has notched 150 yards or more in every game this season, including a three-game stretch where he compiled more than 200 yards in each contest (705 total) and eight touchdowns.

He faces a more than formidable opponent in the Tide’s front seven, which ranks No. 3 in the nation in rush yards allowed (78.5) and yards per attempt (2.6) while allowing just four touchdowns this season. Only one player has gone for over 100 rushing yards on Alabama and that was in a blowout win for the Tide.

Since losing to Ole Miss on Sept. 20, Alabama has won five straight and dominated their opponents. After allowing 43 points to the Rebels, the Tide has allowed just six touchdowns and 51 points in the five games since.

Alabama has a star running back of its own in Derrick Henry, who is tied for No. 4 in the nation with 14 touchdowns and ranks No. 10 in rushing yards (1,044) while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. LSU boasts the SEC’s second-best rush defense in yards per game (93.7) and has allowed just five touchdowns.

This is the seventh time since 2005 that the two schools meet with both ranked in the top 10. Alabama won last year’s meeting 20-13 in overtime in Baton Rouge and won 38-17 in the last meeting in Tuscaloosa in 2013.

Start Time: 8:00 p.m.

Betting Odds: Alabama -7

Channel: CBS

Live Stream: CBS Sports