LSU FB J.C. Copeland Fumble on Goal Line vs Alabama (GIF)

Nov 9, 2013; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers fullback J.C. Copeland (44) fumbles at the goal line after being stripped of the ball by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tana Patrick (11) in the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest factors in the SEC showdown between LSU and Alabama was that the Tigers absolutely had to win the turnover battle on the roadagainst the Crimson Tide. They entered the game with a minus three turnover differential which ranked 82nd which is a far cry from their plus-36 mark from 2011-2012 which led all of college football.

The opening drive for LSU after an Alabama punt was a thing of beauty as Jeremy Hill and Terrence Magee were running angrily against the vaunted defense of Alabama and Zach Mettenberger connected on a 50-yard strike to Jarvis Landry to get the Bayou Bengals in position to score.

Gif Courtesy-SB Nation

With J.C. Copeland playing in his first game since being concussed prior to the Ole Miss game, he appeared he had an easy touchdown–Mettenberger even raised his hands to signal touchdown–but Alabama forced a fumble at the one-yard line and recovered at the LSU 10.

LSU fumbled on their second possession on a 2nd and 21 on a miscommunication between Mettenberger and the center Elliott Porter when he snapped the ball when Mettenberger moved up to call an audible.

Gif Courtesy-SB Nation

Two possessions and two fumbles in the first 10 minutes for LSU is not how Les Miles and Cam Cameron drew this one up in the early goings at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Cade Foster kicked a field goal on the second fumble to give Alabama a 3-0 lead with 3:54 remaining in the first quarter. That’s a minor victory for the LSU defense, now if only the offense can hold on to the ball.