I figured Catt would be chiming in on the up coming Tigers/Gators game.

First off, where did Auburn find some offense.   If Auburn can score, LSU should have easy day, you thinK?

Tommy,     Good luck, I can't think of anyone I'd like to see the SEC title go to than Kentucky or LSU.

Catt, you know your conference break down better than I , I was hoping you would give me the scoup.

I got your back up until UK gets shot at SEC title, then I gotta go with the underdog.    

Whips those Gators by 50 or more and you aren't gonna hurt my feelings.

good luck

Matt

Since 1960, LSU is 201-59-3 (.773) at night in Tiger Stadium; Saturday game is scheduled for 8:00 PM  

If LSU wins this one it's see y'all in the Super Dome  ;D

Also saw somewhere that said, LSU hasn't lost at night at home since 2002, thats an impressive streak.   I believe I'd schedule all my games at home for Saturday nights.  

.773 just shy of 75% for 47 years is impressive.     I'll be watching.

Matt

While most people look at offenses because they are the gilts & glimmer of football I prefer to look at defenses because if your team can stop the opposition from scoring you can win with an error free offense.

Tigers Defense after 5 games

Yards: 873 1st

Yards per game: 174.6 1st

Rush yards: 195 1st

Rush yard per game: 39.0 1st

Pass yards: 678 6th

Pass yards per game: 135.6 5th

Points: 32 2nd

Points per game: 6.4 2nd  

Gators Defense after 5 games

Yards: 1554 35th

Yards per game: 310.5 30th

Rush yards: 317 9th

Rush yard per game: 63.4 5th

Pass yards: 1237 - 87th

Pass yards per game: 247.4 - 78th

Points: 98 36th

Points per game: 19.6 33rd  

What one loss team do you think makes it to the Sugar Bowl to face LSU?

ACC has already taken some hits.

Big East, WVU, Rutgers, Louisville already beat, and one of these teams will give SFU a loss down the road, so they won't be in the picture.  Don't think so!

Big Ten currently has Wisconsin, Purdue and OSU undefeated.    Michigan is still gonna be factor for BCS spot until someone beats them, and don't forget Mich ST has good team.   Maybe no one comes out of the Big 10 undefeated.

Big XII, who knows how its gonna turn out.   NO top rated teams other than OU at #10,  The north will work itself out as it always does.

Pac 10 Cal, USC, Oregon, who knows, USC was taken down by UCLA last year, and some big games left to be played.

BCS poll comes out after week 5, correct?

Matt

Just for a little bit of levity here....

LSU didn't exactly set the world on fire in the first half against Tulane last weekend.

And the LSU defense is good, no doubt.  Then again, you haven't exactly faced any good offenses yet.  VA Tech got its preseason hype due to defense and an unfortunate on-campus incident.  Their offense hasn't impressed in 2 years.

If you can get passed UF and UK (never in my wildest dreams would I imagine UK relevant in the world of college FB), then you can start making some noise

Ohio State, California, or Oklahoma all have a shot  

You Don't see USC in the mix?

I think UK QB is one of the best in college, its the lack of defense I see that will hurt Kentucky.

Texas has alot of QB's playing college ball across the US.   One of the good ones that couldn't find a job in Texas was Harrellson, a coaches son, he's playing at Mizzou, if they don't factor in this year, they will next year.

If Colorado can mess with the Sooners and their Fr QB, they may have some problems from some others down the road.

OSU under Les Miles had just gotten OU's number 2 out of 3 years, OSU is just now starting to get the offense rolling.   Then theres Tech, A&M, both capable if they play to their potentials.

Maybe a team with 2 losses comes out of the south this year, maybe not.

Matt

Just for a little bit of levity here....

LSU didn't exactly set the world on fire in the first half against Tulane last weekend.

And the LSU defense is good, no doubt. Then again, you haven't exactly faced any good offenses yet. VA Tech got its preseason hype due to defense and an unfortunate on-campus incident. Their offense hasn't impressed in 2 years.

If you can get passed UF and UK (never in my wildest dreams would I imagine UK relevant in the world of college FB), then you can start making some noise

Tulane first-year coach Bob Toledo while at UCLA for 6 years won 2 PAC10 championship and had a 20 game winning streak. LSU's defense took all Toledo could throw at them in the 1st half and then shut the Green Wave down in the second half.

Steve Spurrier head coach of South Carline resume is as follows

National Championships: 1 (1996)

ACC Championships: 1 (1989)

SEC Championships: 6 (1991, 1993, 1996, 2000)

ACC Coach of the Year: 2 (1988, 1989)

SEC Couch of the Year: 6 (1990, 1991, 1994-1996, 2005)

LSU's defense took all the Gamecocks could throw at them and then shut them down as well; so I guess they aint that good.

The Trojans defense is too weak to shut down anyone; I think they will lose at least one of not 2 games. While the Trojans only deep threat is their tight end thus giving defenses one receiver to key on.

Thats what makes good teams great, being able to make those adjustments at half time.

   Matt

Just for a little bit of levity here....

LSU didn't exactly set the world on fire in the first half against Tulane last weekend.

And the LSU defense is good, no doubt.  Then again, you haven't exactly faced any good offenses yet.  VA Tech got its preseason hype due to defense and an unfortunate on-campus incident.  Their offense hasn't impressed in 2 years.

If you can get passed UF and UK (never in my wildest dreams would I imagine UK relevant in the world of college FB), then you can start making some noise

Tulane first-year coach Bob Toledo while at UCLA for 6 years won 2 PAC10 championship and had a 20 game winning streak. LSU's defense took all Toledo could throw at them in the 1st half and then shut the Green Wave down in the second half.

Steve Spurrier head coach of South Carline resume is as follows

National Championships: 1 (1996)

ACC Championships: 1 (1989)

SEC Championships: 6 (1991, 1993, 1996, 2000)

ACC Coach of the Year: 2 (1988, 1989)

SEC Couch of the Year: 6 (1990, 1991, 1994-1996, 2005)

LSU's defense took all the Gamecocks could throw at them and then shut them down as well; so I guess they aint that good.

And what a coach did with a different team years ago means what, exactly?  Chan Gailey won a Div IAA championship.  What does that get me?  

It doesn't matter what Toledo did in the Pac10.  Bottom line is his current team's one win this year is against Southeastern Louisiana.  And they outplayed LSU for a half.  Moral victories don't matter, but a much lesser opponent outplayed LSU for 30 min of football.

Is LSU good?  Yeah.  Not sure how they jumped passed USC this weekend (Washington >>>>> Tulane), but that's besides the point.  All I'm saying is not to punch your ticket to the big game quite yet.

Thats what makes good teams great, being able to make those adjustments at half time.

   Matt

I agree.  But should a top ranked team really have to make adjustments against Tulane?

Both teams are from the same state and at one time shared some of the same facilities during post-hurricane days.   I can't really say how many were against Tulane, I bet Catt could tell us the atmosphere of the crowd for that game.

Tulane probably can't go as deep on talent.   Alot of teams can hang for a quarter or two, but after that, depth charts will usually show up.

I have witnessed a bunch of those games this year and seasons past.

Even though Tulane is lesser team, and that shows when you look at the last time Tulane won in that series, you still should coach that game like you were playing a Florida.    Don't let the lesser teams change routine or focus.   Good coaches will still chew some butts even if they are ahead by 50 at half, penalties, turnovers, and other mental mistakes should be addressed while fresh.

Adjustments comes in all shapes and sizes.

Matt  

The coach makes all the difference in the world; Les Miles didn't teach the players how to play during half time, he didn't come up with a game winning play, he changed their attitude.

LSU jump over USC based on defensive play; the Trojans defense can not shut down their opposition period. Nebraska who is the only ranked team USC has played so far and Huskies racked up 420 total yards with 31 points against the Trojan defense.

I watched the Washington game and can tell you their defense absolutely could not tackle; every play they had only 1 player making the tackle this will not happen against a Bo Pelini coached defense.

Also saw somewhere that said, LSU hasn't lost at night at home since 2002, thats an impressive streak.   I believe I'd schedule all my games at home for Saturday nights.  

.773 just shy of 75% for 47 years is impressive.     I'll be watching.

Matt

Wasn't the game where Tennessee came back by like 20 points a few years back @ LSU or was it in Knoxville?

The coach makes all the difference in the world; Les Miles didn't teach the players how to play during half time, he didn't come up with a game winning play, he changed their attitude.

A good coach does indeed play a big role.  However, it seems to me you're completely discounting talent, which plays the larger role.  

Pete Carroll couldn't simply walk into the Temple FB program and be top 25.  I stick to my statement that a coach's previous record does not directly translate to success.  The talent needs to be there, and Tulane's talent simply is no where close to LSU's, regardless who their coach is.

You SEC guys...sheesh

Looks to me like Spurrier had done just that  

Talent doesn't want to play for a college that doesn't get national exposure.   If that athlete wants to go pro, his best shot is in a program that gets TV exposure.  What creates TV exposure opporttunites, past success, fan following, and coaches who are colorful, but win.

Colleges are as only good as the talent they recruit.     Occassionally, you get a team that plays better than their actual talent, and some times, thats pure coaching, sometimes is bigger than that.

Loss of life and other team issues can make a team play better than they are.

Normally, its a coach or coaches pushing those buttons.      

I firmly believe if you put john Doe at South Carolina, some of that talent would not be there.    Steve Spurrier is enough reasons for a young guy in the south to stay and play in the SEC.    

Matt