Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) hasn't played a top 20 team since its thrilling win over Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M in week two. The top-ranked Tide will finally be tested, at least on paper, against 13th ranked LSU (7-2, 3-2) Saturday night at 8 pm E.T. on ESPN. For live stream, vieweres can watch the game for free on cbssports.com.

As is typically the case for two-time defending national champions, Alabama has a reputation for blowing teams out in supposedly "big" games not involving Johnny Football. They'll be 12.5 favorites on their home field, according to The Sporting News.

Except last year's LSU-Alabama game was decided by just four points when Alabama held on for a 21-17 win. "The Linemakers" of the Sporting News point out that LSU haven't been underdogs of this magnitude since 2001 and that though the 'Bama defense is superior; the teams' offenses are pretty close ("one of the best offenses we've faced all year," Saban told ESPN). If LSU can score significantly more than the 9.8 points per game Alabama is currently allowing, The Linemakers believe -- with mixed confidence -- they'll cover the spread. But the safer bet, according to the experts, is picking the under, 55 points. Like last year's 38 total points, they believe defense will win out.

Alabama is one of four unbeaten teams left in the championship picture, along with No. 3 Florida State (8-0), No. 4 Ohio State (9-0), and No. 6 Baylor (8-0). They've got a comfortable lead in the BCS polls and will almost certainly play in the title game again should all four teams win out.

To stop LSU's respected offense, Alabama will have to focus on the tigers' run attack and opportunistic passing game, according to ESPN and 'Bama linebacker C.J. Mosely.

"We already know what we're going to get," Mosley said. "They're going to line up and try to run the ball down our throats and, when they get the chance, go deep over our heads. It's not really too much that we haven't seen or something that they're going to do that we haven't seen before. It's all about who's going to be the most physical team."