Alabama Crimson Tide

It feels like ages ago when LSU was considered the nation’s elite team.

That’s old news.

There’s a new top dog, and its name is Alabama. All that attention LSU garnered coming out of summer was dumped into the Gulf and washed up on Alabama’s shores.

While the Tigers are currently playing second fiddle in the SEC -- and nationally -- they aren’t concerned about not being the center of attention.

“The real good teams, we don’t care about what other people say,” LSU junior defensive end Sam Montgomery said. “We don’t care about the attention. We don’t care about the publicity, and we don’t care what anybody thinks. All that matters is that we get a ‘W’ and play hard-nosed football between the lines.

“Attention here or attention there doesn’t matter. We’re going to ball out anyway.”

And the second-ranked Tigers (3-0) have done that through the first three weeks.

Quietly, the Tigers have pounded their way to leading the SEC in rushing, averaging 269.3 yards per game. Like last season, LSU is making running the ball look simple with a stacked backfield led by sophomore Kenny Hilliard, who is third in the SEC with 303 rushing yards and first with six touchdowns.

The defense has been just as dominant, even without Tyrann Mathieu making a mess of things for opposing offenses. While the level of competition is far from what it was at this time last season for LSU, the Tigers have done their job. They’re only allowing 205 yards per game, which leads the SEC, and have outscored opponents 145-31.

Last year, LSU played very similar ball, but went through most of the season as the nation’s most complimented team. The 2011 Tigers took down a handful of ranked teams and were draped in the limelight.

That’s not the case this season, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger said it’s nice not having all that attention.

“It definitely lessens distractions, for sure,” Mettenberger said. “It makes it easier for us to stop sometimes and have fun. If we can just keep going out there, making good plays, we’ll be fine.”

So far, the Tigers have been more than fine. The offense isn’t terribly exciting with a less-than-flashy passing game and a bullying running game, but that style wins games. Alabama seems to be doing well with that same recipe, and it’s what earned the Tigers 13 straight wins in 2011.

“Coach [Les] Miles’ philosophy is to win anyway that we can to win football games,” Mettenberger said. “Shoot, last year we ran the ball really good and this year we’re running the ball really well, and we’re building off that with the pass game. We’re not going to try and be something we’re not.”

What LSU isn’t is a high-flying offensive threat. But it is a tough, punch-you-in-the-mouth squad that has used last season’s rugged formula to get through the first three games of the season.

Despite the continuing flow of distractions that started with the dismissal of the Honey Badger (Mathieu), LSU has stayed the course as it enters its first SEC game against Auburn (1-2) on Saturday. To Mettenberger, not mixing drama with football has yet again been LSU’s mantra.

“Football is kind of our outlet,” he said. “We never really bring baggage into our football operations building. That’s just not going to help.”

LSU might not be getting the love it deserves nationally, but there’s no doubting how good this team has been. The Tigers still look like a national championship contender, and the only team that could trip up Alabama.

The Tigers don’t need attention to be good, and as Montgomery puts it, keeping the praise away from Baton Rouge is a good thing.

“Attention can get you lackadaisical,” he said. “Attention can get you lazy. But the one thing that you have to stay true to is yourself, and how you have that quest to get better when you get on the field.

“You have to realize that if you’re still in college, you haven’t even reached your dreams to play at the next level, so why should you take a play off? Why should you go soft? There’s no reason to.”

Well, well, well. It looks like The Kid knows a little bit about what he’s yapping about these days.

After two weeks of having identical picks, we have some separation after I correctly picked that Florida would walk into Neyland Stadium and snatch a win away from the Vols. I thought the Gators would win because of their defense -- and that unit did just what I thought it would in the second half -- but I didn’t think Florida’s offense would step up like that. My goodness.

Talk about Rocky Bottom.

That’s exactly where Chris sits heading into Week 4 with a record of 31-4 (.886), which is one game behind my 32-3 (.914) record. We both missed on Kentucky losing to Western Kentucky last week, but the most important thing in my eyes is that I have a one-game lead, and I can tell that Chris is scrambling.

You should have heard our conversation after his alma mater let the Gators off the hook Saturday. The mental games for him started when Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter both dropped those key second-half passes for the Vols. They just fueled his realization that he'd leave the weekend a game behind The Kid.

It’s funny how he has time to take jabs at my love for soccer (the world’s most popular sport, I might add), but doesn’t have the time to remember that defense wins championships. Going with offense last week was a true gaffe by the vet.

For the sake of competition, I hope he has learned his lesson.

On to the picks:

OLE MISS AT TULANE

Edward Aschoff: The Rebels are coming off quite the blowout loss to Texas, in which the defense was totally overmatched. The Rebels face one of the nation's worst offenses, so the outcome will be much different. ... Ole Miss 31, Tulane 14

Chris Low: Ole Miss’ defense is reeling following the Texas stampede last weekend. The good news for the Rebels is that Tulane has been anemic offensively in its first two outings. … Ole Miss 31, Tulane 13

FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT ALABAMA

Edward Aschoff: The only real question for Alabama is whether the defense can pitch its third straight shutout. One will get past this defense. ... Alabama 45, Florida Atlantic 3

Chris Low: One of these days, the Crimson Tide are going to have a game where somebody comes within 40 points of them again. But it won’t be this one. … Alabama 56, Florida Atlantic 3

SOUTH ALABAMA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

Edward Aschoff: The Bulldogs got caught sleeping a little bit in last week's win against Troy, but expect to see a little more life out of Mississippi State this weekend. ... Mississippi State 45, South Alabama 14

Chris Low: The Sun Belt Conference tour continues for Mississippi State, although this one is at home. The Bulldogs need to play better after playing just well enough to survive last week at Troy. … Mississippi State 38, South Alabama 10

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AT TEXAS A&M

Edward Aschoff: We saw a good bit of offense and points from the Aggies last week, and they shouldn't have a problem keeping that up Saturday. ... Texas A&M 51, South Carolina State 7

Chris Low: Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel already has established himself as one of the most exciting players in the SEC. Look for him to roll up Xbox numbers for the second straight week. … Texas A&M 45, South Carolina State 14

AKRON AT TENNESSEE

Edward Aschoff: The Vols have to move on from last week's loss to Florida. Getting the offense back on track against the Zips is the best way to do that. ... Tennessee 45, Akron 14

Chris Low: A lot of air came out of the Vols’ Big Orange balloon last weekend following their collapse in the second half against Florida. They ought to have this one in hand well before the second half. … Tennessee 42, Akron 17

KENTUCKY AT FLORIDA

Edward Aschoff: The Gators are brimming with confidence after back-to-back road wins, and offensive coordinator Brent Pease said he wanted to hang 50 on the Cats. He'll come close. ... Florida 45, Kentucky 10

Chris Low: Kentucky has snapped a couple of long losing streaks over the past two years against Tennessee and South Carolina, but the drought against Florida will grow to 26 in a row Saturday. … Florida 38, Kentucky 14

LSU AT AUBURN

Edward Aschoff: LSU has quietly been one of the most impressive teams in the country, while Auburn barely got by Louisiana-Monroe. Auburn has too many questions remaining to hang with the other Tigers. ... LSU 38, Auburn 10

Chris Low: The battle of the Tigers has been one of the most entertaining rivalries in the SEC over the past decade, but a more physical and more talented LSU team is poised to make it two blowouts in a row. … LSU 31, Auburn 13

RUTGERS AT ARKANSAS

Edward Aschoff: The Razorbacks are at a real low point right now, while Rutgers is riding a three-game winning streak. Tyler Wilson is still questionable and Rutgers' running game is much improved. That's bad news for the Hogs. ... Rutgers 24, Arkansas 20

Chris Low: With or without Tyler Wilson, the Hogs have to figure out a way to stop somebody. They’ve given up 110 points in three games, but the bleeding stops Saturday. … Arkansas 34, Rutgers 21

VANDERBILT AT GEORGIA

Edward Aschoff: Last year's game had a very dramatic ending, both in the game and after it. The Commodores are fired up for this one, but Georgia just has more going for it all around. ... Georgia 31, Vanderbilt 14

Chris Low: The game last year ended with James Franklin and Todd Grantham going nose-to-nose. That little dust-up will ensure that the Bulldogs don’t sleepwalk into this game. … Georgia 35, Vanderbilt 14

MISSOURI AT SOUTH CAROLINA

Edward Aschoff: Both teams have banged-up quarterbacks, and while both could play, we aren't sure how long either will be in. This one will come down to line play, and South Carolina has the advantage both ways. ... South Carolina 27, Missouri 20

Chris Low: It’s Columbia versus Columbia. It’s also one banged-up quarterback versus another banged-up quarterback. The difference will be a South Carolina defensive line that takes over in the second half. … South Carolina 27, Missouri 21

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The two linebackers set up on different sides of the defense, so it's only right that they would have differing styles.

Adrian Hubbard, the tall, lean athlete on the strong side at Sam. Xzavier Dickson, the stockier, bullish pass-rusher on the weak side at Jack.

Hubbard is the speedier of the two, and the more vocal, too. When the outside linebackers practice, it's the redshirt sophomore who is usually in charge.

"Hard work is what I pride my guys on," Hubbard said. "Those outside linebackers, those are my guys."

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Nick Saban's time on the weekly SEC football coaches teleconference was short, just over 5 minutes in length, but fruitful. The sixth-year coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide talked about motivating his team, the improvement in the kicking game and the value of getting young players experience in game situations.


Here are the highlights from the Q&A:

Opening statement: "We tried to emphasize with our team to demand more of themselves so that we can improve as a team and be the best we can be, and hopefully play our best when our best is needed. We certainly try to challenge our players to do that. It's human nature to get motivated when something bad happens. But why do you need one of these 'I told you so' games and just respond by doing what you need to do to be the best that you can be.

"If you asked a great player like Peyton Manning or Michael Jordan, they could probably write a novel on what you need to do to get better. If you asked some average guy on the street, he'd probably have to think about it."

On kicker Cade Foster's improvement: "He's kicking the ball better than he did a year ago. I think he's tightened up his technique. He's always had a really strong leg. The struggle has always been consistency. He's kicking field goals better. He's hitting the ball better. Even though he's missed a couple long ones, he's made a couple long ones. The ones he missed were certainly long enough."

On fighting complacency, mediocrity: "There's a lot of things we do very well. Sometimes if you're a baseball pitcher, you pitch a really good game and lose. You pitch the best, you strike out a lot of guys, you get a lot of guys out, but something happens in a game and you lose. Sometimes you pitch a game and play OK, you play better, you pitch pretty good, but you end up winning. But the big thing is, at the end of all that, you sort of self-analyze what you did and how you did it and how you can improve it so you can pitch better the next time. That's what we're trying to get our guys to do. ... We have a lot of things that we need to improve ourselves on so we can be the best that we can be, so we can play our best and be our best when our best is needed."

On the value playing time for rookies: "Some guys that are younger guys that probably have less experience, I think the experience that they gain playing games is invaluable. That actually enhances their improvement. We have a really young team and we have a lot of guys that need to focus on doing things fundamentally better."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It's wasn't that long ago that Cade Foster was the butt of jokes, widely viewed as the reason the University of Alabama didn't go undefeated in 2011. His three missed field goals against LSU on Nov. 5 nearly cost the Crimson Tide a shot at the national championship.

Clearly, Foster's errors in the kicking game weren't the death knell to Alabama's season. A 14th national title made its way to Tuscaloosa nonetheless.

Still, the junior kicker felt he had work to do after the season had ended. He had trust to rebuild and an attitude to redevelop.

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