He has won two of three games against his vaunted successor. Last year he won his second BCS Championship, the first American college football coach to achieve the lofty distinction at two different schools. Although he has never spent more than five years at any one place he’s coached, he’s as loved as he is hated by adoring, fair-weather fans. Nick Saban is many things, but to the Alabama fan base he is savior—the deity who delivered them from the branding embarrassment of losing football—and more importantly—losing to Auburn, their hated nemesis. But to many legions of LSU Tiger fans—he’s still simply the one who got away.

In this exclusive piece we will evaluate the 7-1 LSU Football team as it prepares for one of its biggest season tests against a favored former championship mentor. Furthermore, we will take our regular armchair quarterback tour of the United States’ toughest collegiate football league, just as the most important part of the schedule rolls around…November.

A Seven Point Difference

I traveled to Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium last weekend for one of the more memorable Southeastern Conference Football games I have witnessed. It was a beautiful, balmy fall day and the crowd was as impressive as it was partisan. I work with former Auburn Quarterback Reggie Slack and he was able to get us great tickets that otherwise I surely would have not been able to secure given the game’s magnitude.

Although the LSU Tigers put on a special teams clinic in Auburn spearheaded by punter Derek Helton’s repeated wedge shots to the one-yard line, they couldn’t muster the necessary offense or defense to better the Cam Newton-led Plainsmen. In the end, LSU’s McGyver-like head coach simply couldn’t win another machine gun fight with a bayonet.

As it turned out LSU’s vaunted defense couldn’t overcome the overwhelming inadequacies of its own offense, which consistently failed moving the football. In the end, LSU’s defense couldn’t overcome Gary Crowton, who is about as popular as Barack Obama among Louisiana circles these days (Gulf Drilling Moratorium/ten percent unemployment).

LSU has recruited talent on both sides of the ball. Its special teams and defense are among the nation’s best—as a result of coaching. The Tigers’ offense, however, is another story completely—also as a result of coaching.

For all of its offensive shortcomings, the Tigers are 7-1. Great defense, an ability to at times effectively run the football and outstanding special teams that give it a distinct field position battle advantage have translated into narrow, dissatisfying wins to a spoiled fan base. Many Tiger fans have aptly observed that if the Tigers were just an average (60th-ranked) offensive team that they would likely be undefeated and ranked number one in the country. However, beating Cam Newton in Auburn would have still been extremely difficult—even with an adequate offense, as his seemingly immortal performance that day likely won him the coveted Heisman Trophy.

Despite the heartache of the Auburn loss and the dismal progression of LSU’s passing game under Gary Crowton’s tutelage, this team is still positioned to compete for championships.

A Few Stats

LSU is 14-1 in games following a loss under Les Miles. The last time LSU lost consecutive games under The Hat was in 2008 when it stumbled to Ole Miss and Arkansas. That LSU team paled in comparison to this one.

The Tigers are 6-0 this year and 42-6 under Miles when they score first. Scoring first is a big factor in this game as Saban will want to score first and nurse a lead with his deliberate rushing attack. Oddly, the last time LSU lost after scoring first—was against Alabama a year ago.

LSU is 5-0 when returning to Tiger Stadium after a road loss. Furthermore, LSU is 9-0 in games following the Auburn contest. Of those nine victories, five have come against SEC opponents, including a 41-34 win over BAMA during the Tigers’ 2007 National Championship run.

LSU sports the league’s top defense (277 ypg) and passing defense (150 ypg). The Tigers are second in scoring defense (15.6 ppg) behind Alabama. Amazingly, the Tigers haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown during the same game this season, and has allowed just two first quarter TD’s over its last 11 SEC contests dating to last season. In its last 11 SEC games the Tigers have held opponents to a total of 26 first quarter points – Auburn 7, Tennessee 7, Ole Miss 6, Arkansas 3 and Florida 3.

Around the League…

Alabama – Read column. Crimson Nick Does Death Valley II…

LSU – Read column. Tigers look to find the missing third.

Auburn – Cam Newton’s Heisman march continues…this week against Chatanooga, where he is assured another monster night toting and throwing the football. Newton’s dual skill set appears to even eclipse the bizarre talent of trendsetter Tim Tebow, as he is a virtual lock for an avalanche of post-season accolades anointing him the nation’s best player. Newton is not only deceptively fast—he’s deceptively strong, evidenced by the difficulty defensive players have in bringing him down in the open field.

Arkansas – The 6-2 Razorbacks (Alabama/Auburn) face the South Carolina Gamecocks this Saturday night in Columbia in what will be a battle of SEC expansion teams (1990). The Razorbacks are coming off of a 49-14 thrashing of the Vanderbilt Commodores, which is a fact that looms large for Tiger fans looking ahead on an already difficult schedule. Two weeks ago the Hogs bettered Ole Miss by a score of 38-24.

Mississippi State – The idle 7-2 MSU Bulldogs suffered an unfortunate setback in what is shaping up to be a magical season of sorts for the formerly win-starved program. It was learned this week that defensive end Nick Bell, a 20-year old native of Alabama, died of a rare form of skin cancer. Look for the Bulldogs to rally around this loss; if not formally dedicate that rest of their season to their fallen brother. Mullen’s team was already motivated, so it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs react to Bell’s death as they prepare to play Alabama in Starkville next week.

Ole Miss – Da “Bears,” as they are now affectionately called by their faithful politically-correct followers, are having a tough season. After losing to Jacksonville State at home to start the season, and later to Vandy (also in Oxford) they have somehow managed wins against Tulane, Fresno State and Kentucky. At 3-5 the Rebels must win three of four to travel to Shreveport in the post-season. They get one this weekend against USL…games against Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State remain. In a season that saw its biggest lost ever—Colonel Reb—da Bears under Nutt will likely fold tent and hope better for ‘next year.’

The East

South Carolina – The 6-2 Gamecocks (Auburn, Kentucky) are leading the SEC Eastern Division, but have a stiff test this weekend in the Arkansas Razorbacks. This is an interesting matchup to say the least with respect to the two head coaches’ apparent play-calling abilities. Nevertheless, the Gamecocks appear to have the more balanced squad and home field advantage in this contest. Carolina has remaining games against Florida (Gainesville), Troy and Clemson (Clemson).

Florida – Urban Meyer helped hammer another nail in Georgia head coach Mark Richt’s coffin with a narrow victory in Jacksonville this past Saturday. Florida is now 5-3 and a game behind South Carolina, with a later matchup in the Swamp looming large for the two division frontrunners. Meyer would love to spoil Spurrier’s best shot at Atlanta in years, but he’ll need more consistency from his team if he is to do so. Fireurbanmeyer.com has cooled since the Georgia victory, while firemarkr