Greg McElroy calls Alabama-LSU division title race a 'toss-up' in 2023
Greg McElroy is viewing Alabama and LSU on equal footing as the SEC West rivals head into this offseason.
The Crimson Tide and Tigers are widely viewed as the top contenders for the West in 2023. McElroy said he would give the slight edge to Alabama because it will host LSU next season, but he called the race a “toss-up.”
“I think LSU and Bama are neck-and-neck heading into next year,” McElroy said. “Bama, of course, because they host LSU, maybe you give them a slight edge. But I think that gap is as close as its been in awhile in the preseason that is.
“It appears as though, this year, the division — more than it’s been in awhile — feels a little bit like a toss-up.”
Here’d video of his comments:
Bama or LSU in the SEC West next year?@GregMcElroy thinks they are neck and neck at the moment. #AlwaysCFB pic.twitter.com/HAh8LEl9Ep
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) January 17, 2023
Alabama has won the SEC West an impressive 8 times since 2009, but LSU has been on equal footing in recent years. The Tigers have won 2 of the last 4 division crowns, including the 2022 title.
Alabama will be looking for revenge in 2023. The Crimson Tide lost to LSU 32-31 in Baton Rouge this season. It was just Alabama’s 2nd loss to the Tigers since 2011. The other came in 2019 when LSU went undefeated en route to a National Championship.
The Crimson Tide will host LSU on Saturday, Nov. 4.
LSU. Not hating but more established their roster wise than Bama. They have a complete overhaul and this toss up wouldn’t be a thought if it weren’t for continued extra misplaced benefit to nick.
“There”
Not much of a toss-up in ’23, I’m thinking LSU definitely will be ready in 2024.
Agree there Neal. The only clear advantage I give LSU in 2023 is at the all-important QB position, where they have a settled starting situation and Alabama is looking for who comes after Young.
I’d give LSU a better advantage at WR and TE as well. The DB area may be up for grabs, but LSU does return and bring in much needed depth and experience.
The LB area Id give Bama. LSU does have Perkins and Penn, but who else steps up?
I’d lean more LSU on the DL.
Yeah, I can see that too – good point. Although it’s fashionable to predict the demise of Alabama based on an 11-2 season and 4 total points, not reaching the CFP etc, though, I’m not ready to count them out just yet. Truth be told, I have a lot of respect for both teams….they’ll fight it out in the West for some time to come, I believe, but it’s sort of a moot point with the ascendancy of Georgia.
I think LSU will have the better team but the game is @ Bama. That will make it a more challenging game for LSU. It really could be a toss up but if I had to pick I’d lean slightly more towards LSU.
Greg knows more about football than I ever will. But I think lsu is getting way too much credit. They lost 4 games. 2 weren’t close and 1 was to a horrible A&M team. They beat Bama on a 2pt conversion and handled an ok Ole Miss team. They smashed a coachless Purdue team in a meaningless bowl. They would have lost to Arkansas if not for Jefferson being out.
You are right on. Saban is still Saban and Bama is hard to beat
Especially at home!
Bama will always be hard to beat, but LSU should have the better team across the board.
How many other games should Bama have lost? A&M, Texas, and Ole Miss come to mind.
You can argue LSU wasn’t the same when Daniels injured his ankle. He was severely limited against Arkansas, A&M and UGA.
Bowls aren’t meaningless for the players playing in them and the coaches who are coaching.
I imagine if it were your son playing in the bowl game it wouldn’t be meaningless, correct???
I think the clear difference will be LSU has an multi-season starting QB and Bama will not have a QB that started more than one college game.
LSU is the 9th game of the season… I would think the starter will have started more than one game…
I’m talking about the whole season.
The game may be in Tuscaloosa this coming season, but I do believe LSU will have the better team across the board for the first time since 2019.
Doesn’t mean they will win. Looking at LSU schedule, that would be the game I’d pick them to lose.
Right… you always predict LSU to be the best… I mean you just said not long ago they are going to have the best RB room…
You’re an LSU homer.. nothing wrong with that.
Coach Nick Saban will have a quality Quarterback as the starter and our defense will not allow the Tide to lose last second games. LSU is still in a rebuild, as noted earlier concerning their four(4) losses in 2022. Looking forward to watching this one in person. Roll Tide !
How do you know your defense won’t lose last second games? You’ll be learning a new defense and there will definitely be a curve. You don’t have Anderson to bail you out defensively anymore.
Not to say Turner or Braswell can’t step up, but I do think LSU is at the worst pulling even with your team. I would give them the edge in several areas.
As far as stating the LSU RB room being the best…I said with all of them returning, plus adding two highly rated guys from Louisiana, they MAY be the best returning room in the SEC.
The RB statement was meant for BamaTime…
Greg is a joke as an analyst and a commentator.
LSU is returning a good starting QB and Bama is going to have to go in a different direction. I think that gives LSU an edge across two very talented rosters…