Here are this weeks rankings: OFFENSE rushing: LSU #40 -- Bama#42 passing: LSU #34 -- Bama #83 pass efficiency: LSU #7 -- Bama #81 scoring: LSU #15 -- Bama #54 Total O: LSU #26 -- Bama #71 DEFENSE rushing: LSU #2 -- Bama #24 passing: LSU #37 -- Bama #55 pass efficiency: LSU #6 -- Bama #66 scoring: LSU #1 -- Bama #56 Total D: LSU #4 -- Bama #28 SPECIAL net punting: LSU #10 -- Bama #85 punt returns: LSU #4 -- Bama #49 kickoff returns: LSU #4 -- Bama #71 We beat these guys in almost every major NCAA category. We blow them away on special teams and defense.
But 28th in total defense is not shabby. Make no mistake, the Tide will "get after you" defensively. We need to make some scores quickly and kill their spirits and take the crowd out of the game.
Red55, I was told on another college football site that, "There are lies...damn lies...and statistics..." If you can derive anything from that information, it's that LSU should win. Should win. But, if you can derive anything from college football, you should have taken the following from this past Saturday... No one in Vegas (the REAL experts) or anywhere else outside of Knoxville gave Tennessee a chance. No one outside of Pitt really gave the Panthers a chance against the Hokies... No one in their right minds gave Clemson a real shot at Florida State, either... No one should give Alabama a shot against LSU, either...But, that doesn't mean that the Crimson Tide can't win. They have the "1's" to run with our "1's" and keep it tight. Our depth should prove to help us, and their sanctions should begin to take effect and help us to pull away, much like a tight long distance race in track where the victor uses a superior "kick" in the backstretch to pull away in the end. But, this is the SEC. This is where we lost the Arkansas game last year after totally dominating them, getting the "L" by a 21-20 count. Take this one game at a time...Bama is a team to be reckoned with, and any time you go on the road in the SEC, it's going to be a tough one. We've have had it relatively easy this year. We've been on roadies against South Carolina, MSU, and we'll end up with Bama and Ole Miss. Our road schedule has and will progressively get tougher. But, don't overlook this Bama team. They have a good team, and this team pasted us at home last year by a 31-0 count. They are capable, and they are playing for pride at home.
Stats are never a predictor of future success. The Tigers have to show up and play, our stats looked pretty good against Florida, too. But late season stats are a good indicator of a teams strengths and weaknesses. I think it is interesting that Nick has this team playing well in every category. Against Bama, LSU is not offering any obvious weaknesses, while Bama has several glaring ones. While not overlooking Bamas potential to derail us at their place, I think LSU can exploit Bama's weaknesses at kick and punt returns, the passing game, and scoring offense.
I think Red's point of posting the stats was as he explained--to show the strengths of our team. We are pretty impressively balanced this year.
