Joel Klatt records the prediction for the matchup

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers will look to keep their postseason hopes alive next Saturday night in Death Valley as the Alabama Crimson Tide heads to town.

It will be a showdown in the Southeastern Conference in Baton Rouge between a pair of programs hoping to stay in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.

Kelly and Co. returned to the practice fields on Tuesday after a Week 9 loss to Texas A&M in College Station, with the focus on playing all four quarters.

“We talked about finishing games and then we started working on some things that we think we need to get better at on both sides of the ball,” Kelly said Tuesday. “It’s kind of good, a few things you need to work on, and then let’s get some young guys some work. We had a scrimmage with the young guys, so that was the focus today.

Now the analysts and college football models have started making their picks for the Nov. 9 showdown.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt has laid out his prediction for next Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

Alabama remains a 2.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with Klatt also favoring the Crimson Tide.

“Remember, ‘Bama got the win over Georgia. And in this case I’d have them win at LSU at night. So they join in. They’re definitely in the game,” Klatt said of Alabama’s College Football Playoff chances.

The Crimson Tide, like LSU, will be inactive in Week 10 before next Saturday’s clash, but will certainly have all the momentum heading into November 9.

After a 34-0 win in their last game against Missouri, Alabama is clicking on all cylinders heading into next weekend.

“That was a big win for Alabama on Saturday, even though it was against a Missouri team that has been overrated since the start of the season. Alabama’s defense played incredibly well after a few weeks of disappointing play,” Klatt said.

“I’m not sure how much we should get out of that game because I don’t think Missouri is particularly good. But when you win 34-0 against an SEC opponent, that should mean something.”

ESPN’s Football Power Index: LSU has a 21.2 percent chance of making the 12-team College Football Playoff and a 4.3 percent chance of winning the SEC Championship.

LSU is taking it week by week, but it’s simple: The Bayou Bengals need to win to keep their postseason goals alive, with games against Alabama, Florida, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma still on the 2024 schedule.

ESPN’s FPI provided early predictions on the remaining schedule for the Tigers.

LSU will be a 32 percent chance to beat the Crimson Tide on November 9 a 59 percent chance against the Gators and a 75 percent against the Sooners with the Tigers also predicted that they would come out on top against Vanderbilt.

That said, LSU is favored in three of the final four games of the season, with only one game as underdogs against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

No. 16 LSU returns to action on November 9 against the Alabama Crimson Tide, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 PM CT at Tiger Stadium.

Immediate takeaways: No. 8 LSU falls to No. 14 Texas A&M in College Station

LSU makes offer to No. 1 quarterback in America

Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a “Sleeper” Ahead of 2024 Season

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers at SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.