College Football Rankings: Can LSU Break Nick Saban's Revenge Streak?

It was the best opening weekend I have ever seen of college ball.

The nation saw LSU stir fry Oregon Cajun style and made the Duck mascot's head Les Miles's latest decoration above his mantle piece. A win against a Top 3 team is better than a blowout and keeps the Tigers' title hopes alive. Everyone is aware about how much tougher the road gets, and the victory should be celebrated modestly.

Before the Bayou Bengals look forward to West Virginia and SEC play, it's vital for the team to take a look back at Saturday's performance.

First, the positives ought to be celebrated. Jarrett Lee did not spontaneously implode and make mistakes--the quarterback also displayed enough trust in his receivers and offensive line to finish off Chip Kelly's defense. Bottom line--LSU doesn't need Jordan Jefferson anymore.

Mike Ford and Spencer Ware are the new running backs on the block, and--given their respective near-century mark performances against Oregon--might be able to outdo 'Bama's lethal Ingram-Richardson combination from the last two seasons.

Most importantly, the defense--especially Tyrann Mathieu--was up to last year's LSU standards. Darron Thomas was picked off and completed just more than 30 of 54 passes. Defense wins championships, after all.

Despite this, LSU knows that it had a couple of breaks. The Kenjon Barner fumble returned-for-touchdown would have not happened if Cliff Harris were in the contest. Oregon literally gave the football as a meal to the Baton Rouge defense. Four turnovers against a Top 4 team will give you a loss any day of the week.

LSU capitalized on these opportunities--yes, and that's what makes them the team to beat in the SEC right now. But one statistic haunts me and should all too well be in the minds of the Tigers' fanbase.

Nick Saban has lost only one revenge game since coming to the South. That lost duel was a decade ago--when a re-emerging LSU program was slaughtered in back-to-back years by the then conference overlord Florida Gators. Take into account that the Tide play their division rivals in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Heap on the toughest schedule in the country and Les's trouble with keeping track of time.

LSU is probably the best team in the country but will likely lose to Alabama on Nov. 5th. It will be a sad day, and 'Bama (even with a weak quarterback) can still take the SEC West in 2011. The Mad Hatter will need a Cheshire cat in that hat, or Tuscaloosa's field will be soaked in purple blood.

Nevertheless, this LSU team has all the facets covered and is the best bet to break Saban's revenge streak--if they come prepared. As an avid LSU fan, I certainly hope so. May we see purple and gold in New Orleans come January.