LSU coach Les Miles made a bold prediction at his weekly Sunday media briefing. “Michigan by 1 [point],” Miles said, venturing a guess on this weekend’s game between No. 1 Ohio State University and No. 2 University of Michigan. “It’s going to have to be a low-scoring game in my opinion.” Miles, an Ohio native, is a former Michigan offensive lineman and said he is excited about the game but cannot afford to watch it on television. The Michigan-Ohio State game starts at 2:30 p.m while the LSU-Ole Miss game is set for 7 p.m. “Will I get the score?” Miles said. “Yeah. Will I run through it occasionally just to catch up? Yeah. [But] I cannot sit there and get engrossed with the calls and what they should be thinking.” For those college football fans accustomed to rivalries in the Southeastern Conference, Miles compared the annual game between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines to the Iron Bowl, which features Auburn University and the University of Alabama. LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is an Ohio State graduate, and Miles said jokingly that there will be tension between them this week. KEEP RUNNING For the second consecutive week, the Tigers amassed more than 200 yards rushing in a game. Five LSU players had at least one rushing attempt in Saturday’s game against Alabama. True freshman running back Keiland Williams had nine rushes for a team-high 79 yards and one score. Junior running back Jacob Hester also had nine carries and rushed for 64 yards. “I think what we’ve got going is really good,” Miles said. “I think fresh legs, I think active backs, I think competition at the position and I think guys trying to make their way have all benefited the maturing of our running game.”
GETTING DEFENSIVE The LSU defense yielded more than 369 yards of total offense against the Crimson Tide – the most yardage LSU has allowed since Auburn gained 451 yards Oct. 22, 2005. Miles said he realizes the mistakes his unit made, but a bad game can go a long way in helping a team improve. “I think our defense, really for the first time, had to overcome some issues,” Miles said. “We got a couple of turnovers when we needed to.”
SWITCHING SIDES Miles and the LSU faithful will be looking for a little help from other SEC teams this weekend to help the Tigers reach the SEC Championship game. “I certainly think that last week was marked by a really good team effort against a quality Alabama team who I hope has a big game coming up [against Auburn],” Miles said with a smile. “I also wish Mississippi State well.” The Bulldogs play at home Saturday against the University of Arkansas, who is still undefeated in SEC play and leading LSU and Auburn in the Western Division.
RUSSELL ALMOST PERFECT LSU junior quarterback JaMarcus Russell continued his stellar play Saturday at home against Alabama. Russell completed 18-of-21 pass attempts for 207 yards and three touchdowns. “Watch him play – he’s getting better,” Miles said. “He’s throwing balls away, he’s not taking licks he doesn’t have to take [and] he’s improving in his ability to make throws. I don’t want our quarterback to play much better.”
INJURIES Senior wide receiver Craig Davis and senior safety Jessie Daniels did not play Saturday against Alabama because of injuries, but Miles said both players have a legitimate chance of playing this weekend against Ole Miss. During the game sophomore linebacker Darry Beckwith went down with a knee injury and did not return. Miles said Beckwith’s availability for this weekend’s game will be determined late this week.
RANKINGS LSU moved up three spots to No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches’ polls. The Tigers also moved up one spot to No. 11 in the Bowl Championship Series poll. In the BCS surprise of the week, the University of Southern California jumped four spots in the BCS to No. 3 and leap-frogged the University of Florida, who ranks No. 4 this week.
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