$80M worth Nick Saban surprised with a heartwarming gift, hours after he opens up about his love for LSU 

Nick Saban and the "College GameDay" crew are in Louisiana to cover the game between the No. 14-ranked LSU Tigers and No. 11-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. It is one of the most anticipated matchups of Week 11 and an emotional return for Nick Saban.

Saban, who is worth $80 million, is best known for being the Alabama Crimson Tide's coach from 2007 to 2023. However, he was also the coach of the LSU Tigers from 2000 to 2004. So, covering this game is of special importance to him.

To commemorate his return to LSU, Nick Saban was surprised with a heartwarming gift that was presented by the LSU mascot. He was given an authentic LSU jersey while on air.

Nick Saban opens up about returning to LSU after nearly 20 years

While Nick Saban is more associated with the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU still holds a special place in his heart. While with the Tigers, he helped the team win the 2003 National Championship.

Early on Saturday's broadcast before kick-off, Saban spoke about how he felt to be back on the LSU campus. He did so while wearing neutral colors, a blue-green suit and tie. He said:

"“It’s great to be back after 17 years of hearing 20,000 people say you’re ‘Tiger Bait.' Back with all these great fans that they have at LSU. Terry and I loved it here and it was a great experience for us. And winning the first national championship is always the best.”

While coaching the LSU Tigers, Saban had a 48-16 record. He then became the head coach of Alabama where he won six national titles.

Who is favored to win this matchup between Alabama and LSU?

Although Nick Saban has a heartwarming story in covering a game between two teams he coached to national championships, the bigger story is the importance of this game.

Both Alabama and LSU sit on the border of playoff qualification. Alabama (6-2) and LSU (6-2) both have two losses and are unlikely to win the SEC.

Although it is not impossible, it is unlikely for a three-loss team in the SEC to be selected for the playoffs. So, this is a must-win game for both teams.

The sportsbooks have Alabama as a slight favorite, giving it -150 odds. They give LSU +125 odds as the underdog. However, the spread is only set at three points, so this is expected to be a tight game right until the end.