How big is Saturday’s showdown between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama?

As of Monday afternoon, BetOnline.com is on pace to have more money bet on Saturday's game in Tuscaloosa than last year’s BCS National Championship Game, according to sportsbook brand manager Dave Mason.

“Since we opened the spread on the game last Sunday and the total on Thursday, the action has been off the charts,” wrote Mason in an email. "We've taken a handful of max bets so far."

BetOnline had Alabama -4 with a total of 43 at the start of the weekend. Despite the majority of bettors taking LSU and the Under, the line has moved in favor of the Crimson Tide and the Over. Alabama is now favored by 4.5 at most books in Nevada and offshore with the total now at 43.5. That's the definition of reverse line movement, which some handicappers value.

The action has been fast and furious in Vegas, too. Late last week, the MGM Mirage had received as many bets on the LSU-Alabama game as it had on any of the weekend’s games.

We’ll be on top of this game throughout the week, providing daily updates on the blog and Twitter, @CoversSports.

You can follow all the line movement on the big game in Vegas and offshore on Covers.com's line archive.

You can keep track of the action at BetOnline.com, too, at @DaveMasonBOL.