LSU vs Alabama: Why Everyone is Secretly Expecting Les Miles to Screw This Up 

The LSU Tigers proved in 2011 that they’re the best team in college football, but do people truly believe Les Miles will beat Nick Saban twice in one season?

This is the same guy that wears his white cap high on his head, has those goofy press conferences and showed some of the worst clock management over the years, right?

While fans may act confident and be fully behind Miles for the job he’s done this season, I sense doubt. I sense that fans generally don’t believe Miles can outwit Saban one more time.

After all, this would be the third time in a row, and the chances of beating Saban three times in a row can’t be high. What about the game plans and the schemes going into the game? What if Saban makes changes to his schemes and Miles doesn’t? What if Miles sticks with Jordan Jefferson even if he plays absolutely terribly?

Here’s a new one for you—what if Miles knew what he was doing all along? What if Miles was preparing Jefferson all year for the Nov. 5 showdown against Alabama, because he knew he would need Jefferson’s speed and option ability against a strong and powerful Alabama front-seven?

Or what if Miles had complete faith in his team and inspired them with the confidence to go out and play their best football?

Quite frankly, I’ve never seen a coach more beloved by his players than Miles.

What if all of those clock management blunders was a mistake that he’s learned from? After all, the guy is human.

In case you haven’t noticed, I have faith in Miles and his staff to pull off the greatest victory in LSU history tonight. A victory over Alabama and Saban to cap off one of the greatest seasons in college football history would be poetic justice for Miles and all of the criticism he’s endured at LSU.

The first time both of these teams played, both coaches played conservatively because they knew it was going to be a defensive struggle and didn’t want to lose the game with a turnover or costly mistake.

This time I expect Miles to let it hang loose. Be LSU. Be that physical rushing team, but call on those plays he’s been saving in his back pocket all year.

I’m not saying we’ll see a fake field goal, no-look pitch, but I’m not ruling anything out when it comes to Miles.

Love him or hate him, the man has done a fine job of leading his team through a gauntlet of ranked opponents, and the Tigers have come out unscathed.

As much as that impresses me, a victory over Saban twice in the same season would absolutely blow me away. Love him or hate him—and most Tiger fans hate him—you have to admit that he’s one of the greatest coaches in college football history.

The man makes every opposing coach look inferior, as he out-schemes them, out-recruits them and picks them apart on the field.

Everyone except Miles.

Saban might take charge of his sideline by shouting and throwing temper tantrums, but Miles shows leadership under his vintage white cap with his calm, cool demeanor. A demeanor that calms his players and lets them know that with all the chaos surrounding the team and surrounding the game, he’s got this thing under control.

Whoever came up with that old “cooler heads prevail” cliche must have had “The Mad Hatter” in mind, because tonight Miles makes it three straight.