It’s Week 11, and ESPN College Gameday is bringing us the poker game of the season, where every card counts. Who will Nick Saban bet on to take Bama over the finish line? This matchup between Alabama and LSU has everything a college football fan could want. In this battle of survival, Kalen DeBoer leads Alabama as the 11th-best team in the CFP rankings, while the LSU Tigers sit at 14th. Both teams enter the game with a 6-2 record, making this clash even more intense. And on the field, all eyes are on Bama’s QB, Jalen Milroe, and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier—two top passers ready to go all in. Can Milroe spin the block like last year? The Crimson red QB may need to!

As Crimson Tide charges, the health and performance of their quarterback, Jalen Milroe, have insiders wondering if they’re playing with fire. Jake Crain, in the November 8 episode of his podcast, didn’t sugarcoat it. With playoff ambitions on the line, their QB’s questionable health and tendency to gamble for high-stakes plays could be just the wrinkle that puts Alabama on the ropes. Potentially even wrecking Kalen DeBoer’s playoff ship. Moreover, his performance is marred by his penchant for “home run” plays. That eagerness to launch big throws led to some missed opportunities in the first half against Georgia, which is Crain’s concern.

Also, Crain is betting on LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, playing on home turf, to have the upper hand, especially “with a Jalen Milroe that is not going to be able to run as well as he usually does, finds a way to win this game against an Alabama team that’s going to be in man free a lot.” Crain’s assessment hits home if Jalen Milroe can’t be effective with his legs. We all know Bama’s offense leans heavily on his ability to run the ba-l and open space for dynamic plays. The “Q Power” and read option plays he’s mastered are pivotal to Alabama’s strategy.

The Tigers’ Garrett Nussmeier is hungry for a victory. J Mil’s high-risk, high-reward plays need to hit their mark if Alabama is to survive in Baton Rouge. If he starts forcing throws again, LSU’s opportunistic secondary could turn those incompletions into costly turnovers. For DeBoer, the top four ranking hinges on the College Gameday edition. Crain pointed out the irony: “A limited Milroe might be just enough to keep Alabama’s offense in a box.”

Jalen Milroe’s got the talent, so what’s the hold-up?

If Jalen Milroe created these high expectations, he’s the one to blame. The reason is simple: he can do it and has done it before. In Alabama’s 42-28 win against LSU last year, Milroe paired 219 yards passing with 155 rushing, scoring four of Crimson Tide’s six touchdowns, each of which came on a run. Now you see why everyone is worried about this dual threat’s legs.

However, for the Tide’s QB, it’s not about what he did one year ago. It’s about what he’ll do this Saturday. And once a Heisman candidate, the regression needs to be studied. Since Georgia’s voodoo, he’s been out of the MVP conversation. Being sacked 16 times this season is also concerning. But you simply can’t blame the QB for everything. No doubt when he is top of his game, he brings in the Tide. His coach Kalen DeBoer also knows that, as he said, “We just gotta get back to when he’s at his best and not try to do too much.” But what about when he is not?

Consistency wins you silverware. It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments Kalen DeBoer must’ve made with his signal caller in Death Valley.