Pumpkins weren’t the only things getting carved in October.
Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton maneuvered his way through the LSU defense en route to 217 yards rushing.
The Tigers had to sit on that loss for two weeks. Don’t underestimate what LSU coach Les Miles and the Tiger defense did in that span.
Say what you want about his coaching style, but “The Hat” knows how to prepare. He’s 13-3 at LSU when he has a week to prepare for a game and has only lost consecutive games one time in that span.
No more spread offense when LSU faces Alabama this weekend. No 6-foot-6, 250-pound monster taking snaps. Just tough, defensive, smashmouth football.
Some people may not like that style. But those people must not have been at Tiger Stadium when the Crimson Tide rolled in two years ago. There were 83 total rushing attempts, yet it was still the most thrilling game at Tiger Stadium in the last few years.
Unfortunately the plethora of objects flying through the air following former defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois’ blocked kick was for naught as the Crimson Tide won in overtime.
This year will be different.
Everything is in place for the Tigers to be mentioned among the best teams in the nation. A win and they’ve defeated the last two national champions. A loss and the Tigers risk falling into obscurity. Alabama can be the mouthwash to the bitter taste in LSU’s mouth. The Tiger defense looked more like cubs against Auburn two weeks ago. But LSU still leads the SEC in total defense, surrendering 277 yards per game.
And they will prove why on Saturday. LSU’s defense is giddy to defend a conventional running attack after the Auburn Cam Newtons ran wild.
Give junior cornerback Patrick Peterson the edge against Alabama junior wide receiver Julio Jones, as long as he can stay on the field. Jones only had two receptions against LSU last season before his 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter when Peterson left with cramps.
And don’t underestimate Peterson’s counterpart. Expect sophomore cornerback Morris Claiborne to create a turnover as the Crimson Tide stay away from Peterson Island. He may be the most underrated piece of the Tiger defense.
South Carolina held Alabama to 36 yards rushing earlier this year. LSU’s recent struggles against Newton will only make the Tigers hungrier to recover. The key to success is bottling the tandem of running backs, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. The last time LSU faced Alabama off a bye week was in 2007, when the Tigers bottled Alabama’s running game, holding the Crimson Tide to 20 yards rushing in a 41-34 victory.
Junior running back Stevan Ridley has his work cut out for him as the Crimson Tide surrenders only 113.4 rushing yards per game, the second-fewest in the SEC behind South Carolina.
But there is no gigantic blob in the middle of the line like former Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody in years past. Ridley should have some success.
In a game dominated by field position and solid defense, special teams will be the difference. Peterson and senior kicker Josh Jasper give the Tigers the edge in that department. In the end, a Jasper field goal will clinch a 20-17 victory for LSU in the waning minutes, sending the student section into a victorious uproar they couldn’t experience two years ago at Death Valley.
Tiger fans are due for a quality home win.
 
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]