Alabama has to contain Jayden Daniels and play a relatively low-scoring game to beat LSU, SEC Network analyst Roman Harper said Wednesday.

Harper, also a former Alabama and NFL safety, appeared Wednesday along with ESPN colleagues Matt Stinchcomb and Taylor Zarzour at the “Passion for Prichard” fundraiser for Prichard Prep Academy at Mobile’s GulfQuest Museum. He addressed a variety of topics, including Saturday night’s showdown between the Crimson Tide and Tigers in Tuscaloosa.

“I think it’s gonna be a really great game and Alabama has to find a way to slow down Jayden Daniels and this LSU offense,” Harper said. “Nobody’s really had the that formula yet so far. It will be interesting to see what Alabama tries to do. Me personally, if I’m the defensive coordinator, I’m focused on a rush plan, to really try and keep Jayden Daniels in the pocket, make him beat you from there. Because once he starts using his legs, it just changes the game completely. It’s deflating for a defense and it also really gives them a lot more momentum in keeping drives alive.

“Alabama’s got to be able to run the football to try and keep their offense off the field and also be able to score at a high amount. This game cannot get into the 40s, 50s. That’s not a game Alabama wants to play. It has to be in the upper-20s, mid-thirties, maybe low 40s, but that’s the only way Alabama wins this game.”

Eighth-ranked Alabama (7-1, 5-0 SEC) hosts No. 14 LSU (6-2, 4-1) at 6:45 p.m. Saturday on CBS in a game the entire nation will be watching. The Tigers will try to be one of the few teams to beat a Nick Saban-coached Crimson Tide team in back-to-back years after a 32-31 overtime victory in Baton Rouge last season.

Alabama has steadily gained steam since early in the season, when many were wondering if the Crimson Tide might be finished as a College Football Playoff contender. Harper said Alabama’s defense has improved by “leaps and bounds” throughout the season, but it’s been the development of Jalen Milroe at quarterback that has been the real key.

“They’ve got to continue to keep that momentum going on the offensive side,” Harper said. “I think they’re doing a better job of protecting the quarterback, at least versus Tennessee they did a much better job. But I’ve got to give Tommy Reese a lot of credit for using tight ends, chipping the defensive ends, really trying to slow down the pass rush, especially on the left hand side of their offensive line, and then being able to establish the run. I don’t think they’ve ever been great at running the football this year, but they are an explosive offense that likes to take the top off the defense.

“Jalen Milroe has done a great job of really giving his wide receivers opportunities in one-on-one situations. He is figuring out what he needs to do and not just trying to make the home run play, but just understand the layups — if we make enough layups we’ll still win the game. … When I watch him on tape, he’s thinking the same thing that I’m seeing on tape. And so that lets me know he is advancing and doing the right things. His eyes are in the right place and he’s reading the right things.”

Alabama checked in at No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, behind five undefeated teams, plus 1-loss Texas and 1-loss Oregon. That would seem to indicate the Crimson Tide needs a little help to make the Top 4 when the final rankings come out in early December, though No. 1 Ohio State still has to play No. 3 Michigan, among other key games.

And Alabama, of course, could still face No. 2 Georgia in the SEC championship game if it continues to win. Bottom line, Harper said, keep winning and the playoff will take care of itself.

“We talk about the rankings every year,” Harper said. “Tennessee was ranked no. 1 last year when the first poll came out. So everything usually works itself out at the end of the day. And that was motivation with Georgia last year.

“… Alabama, just control what you can control. That’s all you can do is just try and win. It’s very interesting to see this Alabama team, because Nick Saban seems like he really enjoys this team. This team really seems to enjoy being around each other and sometimes you don’t know who you’re going to be at the beginning of the year. People tell you you’re good, but you’ve still got to go out there and prove it to yourself and to others and that’s where this team is at. I don’t worry about it at all. Just go out and win and you’ll be fine.”