The Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers are fighting for their College Football Playoff and SEC title lives this weekend. This is when legacies are made and momentum is created. A win this weekend could propel either program into the national title picture.

However, the Crimson Tide must answer some key questions in order to win. We asked our own LSU expert Tyler Forness three burning questions that Alabama must find the answer to in order to win. 

How can Alabama win this game?

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Did Texas A&M provide the blueprint for defenses to rattle Nussmeier, and can that be replicated?

I don't necessarily believe that the Aggies ended up providing the blueprint. It's been there for awhile: generate pressure to collapse the pocket and don't let Nussmeier step up. 

He isn't the kind of player to create outside of structure, but Nussmeier does a really good job of maneuvering in the pocket and evading pressure my sidestepping. If you can collapse the pocket and prevent him from stepping up, it's an easy way to stress out Nussmeier and create havoc.

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Is there an internal answer for LSU’s run defensive woes?

Overall, the Tigers aren't doing too bad against the run. They are 45th in country in success rate and average in EPA/play at 67th. The big issue they have is stopping running quarterbacks. Marcel Reed gashed them for 62 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries two weeks ago in a 38-23 loss to Texas A&M. 

The big problem is they don't have an internal fix. Harold Perkins would have been that guy to spy the quarterback but they just don't have anyone who is on that level. Maybe Whit Weeks can help minimize the damage someone like Milroe can cause but even that might not be enough.

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Has your confidence in Brian Kelly grown enough to trust him in this game?

The enigma of Brian Kelly is quite an interesting one. He's won a couple of big games this year with the 17 point comeback against South Carolina and the win over Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium. However, there is just something that isn't clicking 100% with this team. 

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko appeared to take a shot at Kelly (or Jimbo Fisher, we aren't sure) after the game and he was right. It feels like Kelly is a politician leading this program. You can't deny the recruiting level he's at, but there hasn't been the standard of success that you'd expect from an LSU program over his tenure. He has been very competitive in this game, winning the first matchup on a gutsy two-point conversion call and on track to winning last year before a cheap shot gave Jayden Daniels a concussion. 

This feels like an "anything is possible and nothing will surprise" kind of game and I wouldn't be shocked if Kelly is the reason the Tigers end up losing.