The LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide were two of the best teams in the country a season ago regardless of the fact that the former went on to win it all while the latter failed to qualify for the College Football Playoff for the first time since the grand spectacle came into existence. With that, it’s only fitting linemakers lined the two powerhouse programs up against one another in the upcoming NFL Draft. While the Tigers’ Joe Burrow is likely to be the first player taken off the board, Tua Tagovailoa won’t be selected too far behind him. Though gobs of talent from both programs have their fingerprints all over this year’s draft, it’s the Tigers that’ve been deemed decided favorites to have more players selected than Alabama in the first round. But is it warranted? Let’s dig in and find out!
LSU Players PK +172
Alabama Players PK -220
It’s already been a foregone conclusion that Joe Burrow will be selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After ripping the Clemson Tigers apart to the tune of 463 passing yards and 5 TD in the title game, he was sucking that postgame stogie down knowing full well he was going to get paid come Thursday, April 23. His 99 percent implied probability of going No. 1 tells you all you need to know when inferring about which of these teams gets out to the early lead in this prop battle.
Though LSU took the early lead, it looks like it will get knotted up right quick once Tagovailoa hears his name called. It’s all a matter of when and by whom. As expected, Burrow goes No. 1 to Cincinnati while Washington selects Ohio State’s Chase Young with the second pick to solidify its defensive line. That leaves the Detroit Lions with the No. 3 pick. They enter 2020 knowing full well the backup QB talent level must be bolstered after dropping each of its last nine games once Matthew Stafford succumbed to a back injury. However, secondary help is more of a priority now that Darius Slay is no longer on the roster, and Bob Quinn knows full well he might be able to still snag his guy even after trading down a few slots. If so, enter the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers as potential suitors for Tua.
An Alabama run is likely to occur with offensive tackle Jedrick Wills being targeted by O-Line needy teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who will all be licking their chops. As quick and athletic he is paired with his ability to open up some huge holes for the running game, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go ever earlier. Jerry Jeudy was nothing short of sensational in Tuscaloosa hauling in 2,742 receiving yards and 26 TD over his three-year stay. It would be a shock for the 6’1” 192lb specimen to not be the first wide receiver taken off the board come Thursday night. Some mock drafts I’ve taken a gander at have him going No. 15 to the New York Jets or to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12.
Either way, Bama will be firmly in control of this prop midway through the first round. Especially with Henry Ruggs likely to be selected soon after OU’s CeeDee Lamb is snagged. But then they won’t; the front half of the first round belonged to the Crimson Tide, but the exact opposite will ring true in the back half. K’Lavon Chaisson thrived in his junior campaign racking up 60 overall tackles with 13.5 going for a loss. He also registed 6.5 sacks! Kids the complete package and will make someone look real good for talking a flyer on him early. The Jags could also be looking to replace Telvin Smith who flat-out walked away from the team last season; Patrick Queen would prove to be a wise replacement. Should Justin Jefferson continue to play second fiddle to the more widely known wide receivers, he’ll likely hear his name called late in the first by a team like the Philadelphia Eagles who are currently desperate to land a top shelf wide receiver.
Other names that could possibly go at the tail end of the first round are Xavier McKinney, Trevon Diggs and Grant Delpit. When it’s said and done, it’s going to be close - real close! With that the case, I’d have no reservations taking a stab with the LSU Tigers at a nice plus-money return. The team passed each and every one of its tests en route to cashing in on the CFP title odds. Look for them to put the cherry on top of a masterful campaign by having more players drafted in the first round than Alabama.
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