Crimson Red Sports

TUSCALOOSA — The numbers give Alabama the edge.

Florida’s Trey Burton confirmed it.

Setting off a month-long debate, the Florida receiver said the Crimson Tide defense was “hands down, a lot better” than LSU’s after his Gators managed just a touchdown and a field goal in back to back losses. Setting off an online battle of words, Burton’s bold statement will face the ultimate test Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama’s statistically top-ranked defense meets LSU’s No. 4 unit, in a sense, with an inside track to the BCS Championship Game on the line. The two run-heavy offenses will see an opposition built to take away its strength.

They’re the same, but different. Sort of.

Alabama uses the 3-4 defense with an extra linebacker compared to the 4-3 used by the Tigers. A lineman replaces the fourth linebacker in that setup, but both stray from their base formations often. Linebackers are the strength of Alabama’s attack, while rangy defensive backs are the cornerstones for Les Miles’ group.