This season’s matchup may not claim the “Game of the Century” moniker of years past, but it’s Alabama week for the LSU football team, which means Tigers’ coach Les Miles stepped to the podium in classic Mad Hatter form on Monday.
“[Alabama week] is just a little more energy in the step of your team,” Miles said. “Their attention to detail is greater, their attention to watching film and extra time is something that they put in and yeah, I enjoy it very much. I’ve always enjoyed the competition with some of the better teams in this country and certainly Alabama is that.”
LSU and Alabama have faced off four times in the past three seasons with the rivals splitting the series, but the Tigers have taken five of the last six meetings in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide enter the weekend matchup favored against a two-loss LSU team. As of Monday, the Tigers are 11.5-point underdogs — up from an opening spread of 10.5 points.
“I can tell you that this team does not take on an underdog’s mentality,” Miles said. “It’s a team that really feels like it can play with any, and so I don’t know that we use it as motivation. … I can just tell you that we look forward to playing.”
LSU holds a 2-10-1 record all time against No. 1 teams, including a 1-4 record under Miles’ guidance. Saturday is the first time the Tigers have played the country’s top program on the road since a 1996 meeting with Florida in Gainesville. The Gators toppled then-No. 12 LSU 56-13.
Fortunately for the Tigers, Miles said several ailing players are expected to return to the gridiron Saturday.
Freshman kicker Colby Delahoussaye and senior linebacker Tahj Jones are expected to play against Alabama, but Miles didn’t expound on the extent of their healing process.
Senior fullback Connor Neighbors suffered a contusion against Furman, according to Miles, but will be back on the sidelines Saturday.
Senior fullback J.C. Copeland, who’s been absent from the team since prior to the Ole Miss game after sustaining a concussion, returned to practice on Monday.
“Really, probably J.C. could have played last week, if we had had a game,” Miles said. “I think we’ve done everything that we can to ensure that he has time off and heals. I think he’s ready to come back to practice.”
Miles also said he didn’t watch the “60 Minutes” feature on Alabama coach Nick Saban that aired Sunday night, but he credited his LSU predecessor for being one of the best signal callers in the country.
“I’m certain that there’s an argument to be made for coach Saban and the things that he’s done certainly in the national title games,” Miles said. “I think he does a wonderful job recruiting and he puts together offense, defense and special team in a very efficient manner.”