Les Miles has a different way of staying grounded during Louisiana State’s off weeks. Even with one of the biggest games in Southeastern Conference history on the other side of the break, his team’s bye week gave him the chance to catch up on something that would allow him to stay even more focused on preparation this week. 

‘I get a little more sleep,’ the LSU head coach said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches’ teleconference. ‘I make sure that in the open week I kind of get caught up. I make sure that I see my kids’ games on the weekends before the game. In terms of staying grounded, it’s the SEC. Against quality opponents you need to play well, and I think that makes you want to prepare and be early to the office and late to go home.’

Miles and Alabama head coach Nick Saban each had an extra week to prepare for what’s shaping up to be the biggest game in college football this season. No. 1 LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC) travels to Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on the Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC) at 8 p.m. Saturday. The matchup will be the first time during the SEC’s storied history that the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation will face off against each other.

The Tigers are 3-2 against the Crimson Tide in their last five meetings. During that time, each team has been able to win on the other’s home field. Last season, LSU defeated Alabama 24-21 in Baton Rouge, La.

This season’s game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has huge implications in the Bowl Championship Series picture. The team that loses the game will face a tough climb to get back into the national title picture, unless one of the other three premier, undefeated teams is dealt a loss.

Alabama will need to slow LSU’s dynamic quarterback duo of Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson is more of a threat to run, while Lee has been nearly mistake-free as a passer.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson has scored 17 touchdowns this season, third most in the nation. He will be going against the Tigers’ No. 3 ranked rush defense. Alabama is first in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to an astonishing 6.9 points per game. LSU isn’t far behind, yielding an average of 11.5 points each contest.

Despite what’s at stake, Saban said the players on each side are excited about the prospects of playing in one of the biggest games of the year.

‘It’s something the players really look forward to, and it’s a great opportunity for them to compete in a game like this against a really good team like LSU,’ Saban said during the teleconference.

Saban dealt with the bye week similarly to the way most coaches would. He did everything the same. He said by sticking with the same habits, he feels the players will respond better.

The players recognize the implications of the game, so there’s no reason to overemphasize it.

‘I think the people around you, when you function the same way as you always do — from a time management standpoint, from a preparation standpoint, from your disposition on the field with the players — all those things I try to do pretty much the same and be pretty much the same with everyone because they’re all going to feed off what you do,’ Saban said.

Florida head coach Will Muschamp and the Gators have played both the Crimson Tide and the Tigers this season. In those games, the Gators quarterbacks were rushed and hurried, and Alabama and LSU were able to capitalize on turnovers.

The Gators started the season 4-0, but a 38-10 loss to Alabama and 41-11 loss to LSU began a four-game losing streak UF is still trying to halt. Each of team’s defensive performances against Florida has led Muschamp to believe that the game will be won in the trenches.

‘This one is going to be won upfront,’ Muschamp said during the teleconference. ‘And that’s the matchup I’d be interested in watching. Both of them have good defensive fronts, both of them are very physical on the offensive lines, talented backs.’

Alabama has beaten five of its opponents by 30 or more points, and LSU has beaten four by that margin. Despite each of the team’s dominance in all facets of the game, Miles is preparing for a slugfest.

And although both teams have controlled each of their games early on, the mentality remains the same.

‘It’s going to be important in this game to play for 60 minutes,’ Miles said. ‘I’m not curious about it. I don’t worry about it. We try to instill it in our players. That’s the way the game is supposed to be played.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on November 2, 2011 at 12:00 pm