Editor's note: Brian Edwards is No. 2 on VI in guaranteed NCAAFB picks (23-13, 64%, +894!) after cashing another winner on the Boise St.-La. Tech 'over' last night. Don't miss out on his pay-if-it-wins-only selection for tonight!

There’s no debate about where the most important game of Week 10 will take place in college football. That would be in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where Alabama (8-0 straight up, 5-3 against the spread) will play host to its bitter SEC West rival, LSU.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Crimson Tide as a 10-point favorite with a total of 37 ½. On Monday, most books were using nine, but the number was down to 7 ½ by Friday. The total was in the 38-39 range this afternoon, while bettors had a chance to take the Tigers to win outright for a plus-240 payout (risk $100 to win $240).

Nick Saban’s team is coming off a bye week after winning eight consecutive games, including its first five in SEC play against Arkansas (35-7), Kentucky (38-20), Ole Miss (22-3), South Carolina (20-6) and Tennessee (12-10).

The Vols nearly pulled a stunner two weeks ago, but they had a potential game-winning field goal blocked by Alabama All-American defensive tackle Terrence Cody as time expired. Cody also blocked a field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half.

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After the loss, UT coach Lane Kiffin cried like a chump about the officiating instead of taking ownership for a two-minute offense that could’ve easily put the Vols’ kicker in better position if not for a complete lack of urgency at the conclusion of both halves. Nevertheless, UT took the cash as a 14 ½-point road underdog.

Leigh Tiffin’s four field goals is all the offense ‘Bama could muster against Monte Kiffin’s defensive unit. Greg McElroy connected on 18-of-29 throws for 120 yards without a touchdown or interception. Mark Ingram ran for 99 yards on 18 carries.

Since its lone loss of the season to Florida by a 13-3 count in Baton Rouge, LSU (7-1 SU, 4-2-2 ATS) has responded with back-to-back victories. After an open date following the loss to UF, the Bayou Bengals put it on Auburn 31-10 as 7 ½-point home favorites. Jordan Jefferson was the catalyst, completing 20-of-30 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Jefferson also had a 15-yard touchdown run.

Les Miles’ bunch dropped Tulane 42-0 last week, covering the ‘chalky’ 36 ½-point number at home. Charles Scott led the way with 112 rushing yards and a pair of TDs on just 18 carries. Jefferson threw for 163 yards and two TDs to Brandon LaFell.

Speaking of LaFell, he leads the SEC in touchdown receptions with eight. LaFell, a first-team All-SEC selection in 2008, has 37 catches for 478 yards. Terrance Toliver has a team-high 38 receptions for 501 yards and three TD grabs.

I had my doubts about Jefferson going into the year, but he has answered the call for the most part. He struggled against Florida, but what quarterback hasn’t? Jefferson’s season numbers are solid: 63.7% completion rate for 1,421 passing yards with an 11/4 touchdown-interception ratio.

McElroy exceeded expectations early in his first season as Alabama’s starting quarterback following a three-year stretch of John Parker Wilson under center. But the junior signal caller has seemingly regressed in the last three games against the best defenses he’s seen all year (Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee).

Still, McElroy owns a 9/3 touchdown-interception ratio for the year. His favorite target is Julio Jones, but some say that’s the problem. Jones is often double-covered and McElroy has had a tendency to try and force the ball his way. Jones has not had the type of year most expected from him, as he has just 20 receptions for 229 yards and one touchdown.

Ingram has stolen the show and could become the first player in Alabama school history to win the Heisman Trophy. And no, that wasn’t a misprint. Nobody for the Crimson Tide has brought that hardware from the Big Apple to T-town. Not Joe Namath, not Kenny Stabler, not Shaun Alexander, nor Bobby Humphrey.

Ingram has rushed for an SEC-leading 125.5 yards per game. He’s averaging 6.6 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. Ingram has been so good that freshman sensation Trent Richardson (5.1 YPC) and bruising Roy Upchurch have become afterthoughts in the Tide’s attack.

When these teams met last season, every member of the LSU football program deserved to win. Miles and his staff did everything in their power to come out on top. So did every player except for one – QB Jarrett Lee. In fairness to Lee, the blame should actually fall on Ryan Perrilloux, who was supposed to be the starting QB in 2008.

But Perrilloux’s endless mistakes off the field resulted in his dismissal from the team, leaving Lee as the starter far before he was ready to lead a talented squad hoping to repeat as national champs. And the Tigers couldn’t overcome Lee’s freshman mistakes against the Tide.

Although LSU dominated most of the game, Lee’s interceptions were too much to overcome. His last pick in overtime sealed the deal for the Tide, who escaped with a 27-21 victory in the extra session. Gamblers backing ‘Bama pulled out a miraculous cover laying three points.

When these teams last met at Bryant-Denny in 2007, the reverse was true. ‘Bama controlled much of the game and had a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter. On a fourth-and-long play, Matt Flynn found Early Doucet for the first down and Doucet did the rest, breaking a pair of tackles before sprinting into the end zone to tie the game at 34-34.

Several plays later, Wilson coughed up a fumble. Jacob Hester would make the Tide pay moments later, bullying his way to paydirt to give LSU a 41-34 win and keep their national-championship hopes alive. On that occasion, bettors backing LSU garnered a fortunate push with the Tigers listed as seven-point favorites.

In 2009, Alabama is second in the SEC in scoring defense, giving up 11.4 points per game. LSU is third in the SEC in scoring defense, surrendering only 12.1 PPG.

The ‘under’ has cashed in four straight LSU games and is 6-2 overall for the Tigers. However, they have watched the ‘over’ go 2-1 in their three road assignments. The ‘under’ is 4-3 overall for ‘Bama, 3-1 in its home contests. Regardless of the venue, the Tide has seen three consecutive ‘unders’ hit.

CBS will provide television coverage at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Don't be surprised if special teams play a huge role in this game. 'Bama's Javier Arenas is a dynamic punt returner, leading the SEC in that category with a 16.8 yards-per-return average. He had a 61-yard punt return for a TD in the '07 game against LSU. For the Tigers, Trindon Holliday is a burner who has shredded the SEC record books in track and field during the spring throughout his stay in Baton Rouge. Holliday is currently third in the SEC in punt return average (14.6). Also, we mentioned Tiffin's four FGs to beat UT. He's up for the Lou Groza Award for the nation's premier place kicker.

--During Miles' five-year tenure at LSU, his team is 2-3 ATS as a road underdog. The Tigers went to Athens earlier this year in their only spot as road 'dogs, capturing a 20-13 win as three-point puppies. Meanwhile, 'Bama is 6-10 ATS as a road 'chalk' on Saban's watch. The Tide is 2-3 versus the number in such situations this year, including back-to-back non-covers against South Carolina (20-6 win as an 18-point favorite) and UT.

--ESPN's NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper ranks LaFell as the No. 2 senior wide receiver in college football.

--Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback Larry Smith is “out” for the rest of the season with a partially torn hamstring sustained in last week’s 56-31 home loss to Ga. Tech. Mackenzie Adams, a fifth-year senior, will make his 10th career start and his first of the season Saturday at Florida. Adams came off the bench to complete 12-of-22 passes for 152 yards against the Yellow Jackets. LVSC opened UF as a 35-point home favorite against the Commodores. The number was 32 ½ at a few books Monday, but the Gators were back up to 35 as of Thursday afternoon. Bobby Johnson’s team is 1-2-1 ATS as a double-digit underdog in 2009, while UF is 3-3-1 ATS as a double-digit favorite.

-- Florida has won 18 in a row against Vandy, including last year’s 42-14 win as a 23 ½-point road ‘chalk.’ The ‘Dores haven’t won in Gainesville since 1945.

--Florida All-American LB Brandon Spikes is "out" vs. Vandy. On Monday, Urban Meyer announced that Spikes would be suspended for the first half after video surfaced from last week's win over Georgia showing Spikes attempting to gouge the eyes of UGA running back Washaun Ealey. After Meyer came under fire for not being more stern, Spikes himself announced Wednesday that he won't play at all because he didn't want to be a distraction to his teammates. This noble move, coupled with Spikes' decision to stay in school (and perhaps even the nasty streak he has that was evident in this whole episode), should only help his stock in the upcoming NFL Draft. (At least it would if I were a GM. And remember, many GMs wouldn't touch Percy Harvin last year, while I was amused by the fact that this year's favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors didn't go in the top 10 selections.)

--Is South Carolina poised for a third consecutive late-season swoon? Maybe. Without a doubt, the Gamecocks are going to have a hard time emerging from Fayetteville with a victory this Saturday. That’s because they will be without three important starters, including junior defensive end Cliff Matthews and junior safety Chris Culliver. Matthews is tied for fourth in the SEC in sacks with five, and he’s second in the SEC in fumble recoveries with three. Also, junior OT Jarriel King is “out” after sustaining a concussion in last week’s 31-13 loss at Tennessee. The final score is a tad misleading, however, because the ‘Cocks out-yarded UT 365-341. The Vols got a pair of gift fumbles that set up first-quarter TDs on USC’s first two drives.

--While South Carolina is nursing injuries galore, Arkansas second-year head coach Bobby Petrino told HawgSports.com that his team “is pretty healthy, we're about as healthy as we've been all year long.” The Hogs spanked Eastern Michigan 63-27 last week. Most books have Arkansas favored by seven vs. USC.

--Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has an 18/3 touchdown-interception ratio, while Stephen Garcia has a 12/5 TD-INT ratio.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.

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