It’s not hard to pinpoint why a handful of Associated Press voters aren’t convinced they will vote Alabama No. 1 should the Crimson Tide upset LSU in the BCS national championship on Monday. It’s because the Tigers have been so dominant through a challenging regular-season schedule, particularly on defense.
LSU’s overpowering defense not only has been one of the best in school history but one of the best of all time. And perhaps that could be best shown by the teams LSU already has beaten.
Two teams that won major bowls with huge offensive outbursts were limited to season lows by LSU.
West Virginia, which beat Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl, lost 47-21 to LSU in Week 4.
Oregon, boasting the country’s fourth-best offense, recently defeated Wisconsin 45-38 to win the Rose Bowl. LSU slowed down Oregon 40-27 in Week 1, limiting the Ducks to no play longer than 18 yards. Quarterback Darron Thomas finished with the lowest passing efficiency rating of his career (97.1).
The Tigers also shut down Arkansas, which plays in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, in a 41-17 rout. They also limited bowl winners Mississippi State to six points, Florida to 11 and Auburn to 10.
While Alabama leads the country in scoring defense, total defense, passing efficiency defense and run defense, LSU’s defense has been first in the area that counts the most — turnover margin (1.69 per game).
LSU’s main defensive catalyst in the secondary has been Tyrann Mathieu, who leads the Tigers in tackles (70), fumbles forced (six) and fumbles recovered (five). And then there’s Morris Claiborne, who was voted the SEC’s top defensive player. Both cornerbacks benefit from a powerful LSU pass rush that recorded 37 sacks.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis has openly said LSU’s defense is more talented than the 1998 Tennessee defense he coached that sent 11 players to the NFL.
The first time LSU faced Alabama in a showdown of the nation’s top two teams, the defenses shined in the Tigers’ 9-6 win. That could be the case again with a national title on the line for the two SEC schools.
Regardless, LSU’s regular-season resume already speaks for itself.
– Scott Gleeson
