LSU-Alabama: Getting Defensive in a Must-Win for the Tigers

This Saturday's matchup between the 12th-ranked LSU Tigers and fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide is truly a must-win situation for both teams involved.  Both have suffered one defeat while mutual conference foe Auburn sits atop the SEC mountain as the conference's lone undefeated team.

Both the Tigers and Crimson Tide are coming off bye weeks in anticipation of this game, which has grown even more competitive due to reasons that frankly this author is sick of speaking about.  In fact, it is truly nauseating that the mention of the connections between LSU and Nick Saban are brought up continually every year.

That being said, whether it is the reluctance of some Tiger fans to let the past slip away, or boastful Tide fans who want to find something to agitate, the subject should be dead.  This rivalry has too much history for that to be the drawing point for discussion.

What should be discussed, though, is the fact that the vaunted LSU defense, which ranked first in almost every statistical category before the loss to Auburn, allowed a 217-yard rushing performance to Auburn QB Cam Newton on route to a total 440-yard performance to the Auburn Tigers.  

What should be said in the LSU defense's defense though, is the fact that they in essence held the Auburn Tigers to 24 points even after the spectacular rushing performance that Auburn displayed.

After two weeks of preparation for Alabama and remembering the statistical anomaly against Auburn, the LSU Tigers should be completely prepared and ready to prove to the nation that they are in fact the defense that Tiger Nation has grown to love, against the dynamic two-headed monster running back rotation of Alabama RBs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.

Besides an improved defensive performance, the LSU Tigers are facing a must-win predicament in order to keep at least an at-large BCS bid in play, as it is highly doubtful that Auburn will lose two games.  If though, LSU wins out and Auburn loses two then the Tigers' hopes of an SEC Championship game appearance and more are still in play.

The simple truth for the Tigers and Tiger Nation in general, is that if LSU wins against 'Bama, frustrations that have built in the past two seasons losses (uh huh, that was a Patrick Peterson interception) will melt away with opportunities abound.  A loss however, would cause not only the year-long rants from Crimson Tide fans, but a trip to Texas at best and another year of frustrated fans.