re: AP Poll is out: LSU #21, Wisconsin #10

The real problem was in the preseason rankings. UW was always a top 20 team, the national media only has room for OSU and Mich when it comes to the B1G. If they are doing well it completely drowns out every other team in the conference. This was, mistakenly, the first time in a decade that UW wasn't ranked in the preseason top 25.

UW won 10 games last year and took it to USC in Southern California (I know they are overrated but they have a similar rep as LSU, talent overflowing at every position). The year before UW won 11 games (very easily could have been 12 if we had our real QB starting the season as you guys saw first hand) and beat Auburn in the bowl. Both years we had a top 10 D. Before that we won the conference three years in a row.

Our Defense ended the year ranked #1 in the nation last year, #4 against the run, and we returned 6 of our front 7 (plus around 4 or 5 other guys who were heavy in the rotation last year) and by far our best corner. Losing Aranda was a blow but its not like UW had a rep as a bad defensive team before he got here. We still have multiple NFL guys on that side of the ball every year.

Don't believe the ESPN hype, UW was never the underdog the experts presented them as in the lead up for this game. LSU clearly has talent, but so does UW. I don't think any neutral observer would come away from that game saying that the talent on LSU's side was heads and shoulders above that of UW. Seemed to me like there was no real difference in athleticism out there once you got over the preconceived notion that LSU's players simply ARE better just because they play for LSU. If anything, UW seemed to have the biggest 'talent' advantage and it was in the trenches.

Take a deep breath Tiger fans, its not like you lost to South Georgia St, you lost to a top 15-20 team playing with a state sized chip on its shoulder. In the hype you didn't take us seriously, you didn't actually look at the tape and see how our strengths matched up with yours, you dismissed the defensive rankings as products of a weak B1G and the coordinator that you stole, you ignored the many Badger fans who came here to talk X's and O's in favor of SEC chest thumping. So now, sitting on the other side, it feels like the world has gone all topsy turvy on you and you are lashing out at those closest to you just to feel something.

Did LSU look good? No, there are clearly issues that need to be ironed out. But playing a top 5 defense on the road had a whole lot to do with it. Take a step back from the edge and realize that there were two proud programs out on that hallowed field on Saturday, it wasn't just LSU crapping the bed.