With every game that has passed, The Daily Reveille’s staff has listed its expectations, watched both the predicted and unexpected come to fruition on the football field and analyzed the outcomes. As LSU turns into a sea of purple, gold, crimson and houndstooth, The Daily Reveille’s sports staff and editors are casting their final thoughts. How will the game pan out? Here’s what our sports writers and editors think.

Andrea Gallo, Editor-in-Chief

It’s been far too long since we’ve seen the Les Miles we know and love — the one who’s known for his trick plays, his giddy personality and his insanity underneath the white cap. That’s the Les Miles we’ll see in the Game of the Century, Part III. On paper, Alabama’s better. But the magic of Death Valley at night can’t be denied. This will be a game of skill versus spirit, and the optimist in me says spirit will win.

Score: LSU 17, Alabama 12

Luke Johnson, Sports Editor

I want to be a homer, but I need to keep my conscience clean. Alabama is on one hell of a run right now, and while the Tiger Stadium energy will keep the game close, Alabama will score late and pull away.

Score: Alabama 24, LSU 9

Albert Burford, Deputy Sports Editor

We may be in for a game eerily similar to the 2009 LSU-Florida matchup. By all means, this should be a complete snoozefest, but I’m hoping for some Mad Hatter magic to make the night more interesting. I just don’t see it happening, though. Remember, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron apparently never makes mistakes.

Score: Alabama 13, LSU 3

Chris Abshire, Sports Writer

The Tigers turn back the clock — to 2010. LSU uses a bye week to barely revive a dead offense and hold off a favored ’Bama team expected to repeats as national champs. A Les Miles trick play leads to an LSU touchdown as the Tiger defense forces two Tide turnovers. Drew Alleman again boots a game-winning field goal (sorry, that’s 2011) — this time his fourth of the game — with no time left to make it a hat trick of consecutive LSU regular-season wins against Alabama.

Score: LSU 19, Alabama 17

Chandler Rome, Sports Writer

Call it what you want, but the raucous, mostly inebriated, and always fickle Tiger Stadium crowd will hurt the home team. Boos will reign after each Zach Mettenberger incompletion and toss sweep, and will create an environment not conducive to pulling the upset. The LSU defense will hold steady, but I haven’t seen enough from the offense to – in a right mind – pick the Tigers.

Score: Alabama 23, LSU 7

Alex Cassara, Sports Writer

Alabama is the best team in the country. There’s no arguing that in my eyes. The Tigers will need all the help they can get. If they fail to force McCarron to turn the ball over at least once, they lose. If Mettenberger can’t connect deep to soften that front, they lose. The defense will be fine, but only for so long. The offense needs to move the ball early. I generally believe Tiger Stadium’s mystique is exaggerated, but if Death Valley stays rocking, maybe it can delay the Tide passing attack for a bit while that of the Tigers finds a rhythm. But I just don’t see it.

Score: Alabama 17, LSU 6

Micah Bedard, Sports Columnist

When it comes down to it, Alabama is the better team. Coach Les Miles said he expects to throw the ball better against the Crimson Tide, but I’m not convinced. The 10-point spread is a bit too much for me, and I still think the Tigers cover. Even though I picked Alabama, never count out the magic that is Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

Score: Alabama 20, LSU 16

Lawrence Barreca, Sports Contributor

The last two weeks have been promising for LSU fans, as victories against the Gamecocks and Aggies have injected new life into a fan base that was looking for answers after a devastating loss in Gainesville. People can say what they want, but I think Saturday’s game will be closer than people expect.

Score: LSU 24, Alabama 21

Spencer Hutchinson, Sports Contributor

If the LSU defense is unsuccessful at slowing the surgically efficient, mistake-free Alabama offense, a slaughtering LSU has seldom experienced in Tiger Stadium could be looming. Ultimately, home-field advantage will help the Tigers keep the game close. But the Tide will win by a comfortable one-touchdown margin because the Tigers’ offense has proved time and time again that it will be incapable of going toe-to-toe.

Score: Alabama 20, LSU 13

Trey Labat, Sports Contributor

The LSU offense is moving at a less efficient rate than last year’s much-maligned unit. Mettenberger’s struggles have been well-documented, but the wide receiver position has struggled without Rueben Randle there to stretch the field. Alabama’s passing offense is much-improved with the continued development of A.J. McCarron, and the Tigers passing defense has already given up as many touchdowns as they did all of last year. These things combined with an impatient Death Valley crowd could spell disaster for LSU.

Score: Alabama 17, LSU 3

Marcus Rodrigue, Sports Contributor

Prepare to be bored. These two teams are basically clones of each other, and they’ll stick to their guns with a heavy dose of running the football and stout defense. The crowd will rattle Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron much like it did to South Carolina’s Connor Shaw, and the Tigers will kick a late field goal.

Score: LSU 13, Alabama 10

Bria Turner, Sports Contributor

LSU will win the game against Alabama on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium based on all the factors in the Tigers favor. It’s a night game in Death Valley following a bye week, and LSU is the underdog. All the Tigers have to do is play like they want to win, and they will earn the victory. It won’t be a blowout, but the Tigers will come out on top.

Score: LSU 27, Alabama 21

Tyler Nunez, Sports Contributor

All the conditions are perfect for LSU. Players will come into Death Valley on Saturday night with fire in their hearts and a thirst for vengeance. Unfortunately, It won’t be enough. Alabama’s defense still looks stone cold, allowing only 8.1 points per game, A.J. McCarron has improved dramatically, throwing 18 touchdowns against zero interceptions, and LSU’s saving grace from last season is gone, as kicker Jeremy Shelley hasn’t missed a field goal this season. LSU will give Alabama a fight, but the Tide will prove to be too much come the fourth quarter.

Score: Alabama 24, LSU 13

James Moran, Sports Contributor

The game will be a defensive struggle. The difference-maker is that LSU is playing at home with the longest home win streak in the nation. I predict a tight, conservative game, but the team that takes chances in the fourth quarter will win. The Mad Hatter will try something just crazy enough to work.

Score: LSU 17, Alabama 14

Scott Branson, Sports Contributor

LSU stuck to the script on offense for a full season-and-a-half. Run, run again, run some more and pass just enough to keep the defense honest. With Alabama expecting LSU to continue its methodical, pound-it-out-on-the-ground approach on offense, LSU coach Les Miles will try his best to pull the rug out from under Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. Thus the Tigers will live and die on the right arm of junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger. There will be a plethora of three-step drops, 5-yard outs and probably a couple interceptions, but the Tigers will be counting on a some big plays to make the difference in the game.

Score: LSU 20, Alabama 16