“Style points” is a phrase frequently used in college football.Though it isn’t officially a statistic, it’s supposedly very important to pollsters and those quirky BCS computers.If that’s the case, then LSU is lacking in fashion in its first three victories of the season, as the Tigers have done just enough to sneak to a 3-0 start.But style points will go out the window in the next four weeks, as LSU will take on the meat of its schedule with four straight weeks of Southeastern Conference play, beginning tomorrow at 11:20 a.m. against Mississippi State (2-1, 1-1) in Starkville, Miss.When asked about the Tigers’ schedule in the next four weeks, LSU senior running back Charles Scott simply called it a “beast,” adding the style points are no worries to the team.”We’re going to have to turn the heat up,” Scott said. “But we are in position to take those strides. It’s just a matter of us getting into practice and really focusing on the things we need to improve on.”To get through the tough slate of SEC games, the Tigers will rely on a defense that has not surrendered a touchdown in six consecutive quarters, dating back to a week-two victory in Tiger Stadium against Vanderbilt.Keeping that streak intact didn’t come easy against Louisiana-Lafayette, as the Tigers had to use a third-quarter goal-line stand at their own one yard line to keep the Ragin’ Cajuns from breaking the streak.”That goal-line stand was really important for this defense,” said junior safety Chad Jones. “I’m glad we got to do that early in the season so we know what it takes to keep our opponent out of the end zone when it really matters.”Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has recognized LSU’s vast improvement from last season on the defensive side of the ball.”[LSU] is an established team with a very solid defense,” Mullen said. “They have a new scheme on defense that their guys have really bought into.”The Tigers’ defense also has not allowed a touchdown against Mississippi State in Mississippi since 12:56 left in the first quarter of a 37-7 LSU victory in 2005, and Mississippi State has not beaten LSU since a 17-16 victory in 1999 against the Tigers in Starkville.LSU’s last trip to face Mississippi State on the road ended with a 45-0 victory in a Thursday night football game to open the Tigers’ 2007 national championship season.But the Bulldogs are 7-1 in their last eight games, and LSU junior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said Mississippi State’s offense will pose a threat to the defense.”It’s an SEC opponent, so you know they are going to come out and try to hit you in the mouth,” Sheppard said. “They are a power team, and they have a very strong running back, so we are going to have to tackle well to keep them out the end zone.”One thing will be different this time for the Tigers’ trip to Starkville as kickoff is slated for shortly after 11:20 a.m.The morning kickoff is the earliest start time for the Tigers since last season’s opening game against Appalachian State in Tiger Stadium, a 10 a.m. kickoff because of impending bad weather from Hurricane Gustav, a game LSU won, 41-13.LSU has won its last four games with kickoffs before noon, including a 48-17 victory against MSU in 2006. The last time the Tigers lost an early game was in 2002, a 35-20 loss to Texas in the Cotton Bowl, a 10 a.m. kickoff.That leaves the Tigers not at all worried about the day game.”Last year against [Appalachian] State was one of our better performances,” said sophomore center T-Bob Hebert. “If anything, I’m looking forward to it because … it’s always nice to have a morning game because it’s a great college football tradition.”—–Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]