LSU vs. West Virginia Week 4: Five Reasons Bayou Bengals Win in a Romp

Second-ranked LSU Tigers are about to meet their toughest competition in West Virginia this season. The Tigers moved up a spot to No. 2 in the nation after a big win over Mississippi State on Thursday, and will take on the 16th-ranked WVU Mountaineers next Saturday. Every game here on out is the Tigers' biggest, as they will need to remain undefeated if they want a shot at the BCS National Championship.

West Virginia will be the highest ranked opponent the Tigers have faced since their Week 1 victory over then-No. 3 Oregon. The biggest challenge for LSU going into this one will be playing in Mountaineer Stadium with the noise produced by the WVU faithful. Despite the home-field advantage, the Mountaineers aren't expected to come close in their matchup with the best the SEC has to offer, and the Bayou Bengals should win this won handily.

Playing in Prime Time

Another week, another national TV appearance for the Tigers of LSU. LSU seems to shine in these big, feature prime-time games. In the Tigers' last four games in prime time, they are undefeated.

The Tigers like to show the nation that not only are they the best in the SEC, but the best in the nation, as far as they are concerned. The Tigers enter this game with a chip on their shoulder as several analysts have criticized the offense and aren't sure if the Tigers truly are a contender for the BCS title.

When you give the Tigers something to prove, they are going to make you pay. Look out for them to do just that under the lights at Mountaineer Stadium on Saturday.

Morris Claiborne

Morris Claiborne has been one of the most dangerous defensive players all season and he displayed why he is in the conversation for the Chuck Bednarik Award as defensive player of the year against Mississippi State last week. 

Against the Bulldogs, Claiborne had two interceptions to go along with a pass deflection. Junior West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is not going to want to throw in the direction of Claiborne in this game. Claiborne has tremendous athletic ability, and he showed it when he picked off Chris Relf Thursday.

Challenging Claiborne to make a play is not something WVU will want to do, especially with the momentum he is riding into Saturday's game in Morgantown.  

Spencer Ware

LSU's offense has been oft criticized early on in the season, and fair enough, but as of late the bruising RB duo of Michael Ford and Spencer Ware has provided a lot of new options for the Tigers offense.

Ware and Ford have rushed for a combined 484 yards on the year and just seven touchdowns, but it isn't their big-play ability that helps the Tigers, but rather their ability to relentlessly pound the ball into and through the defensive line. Their short bursts of energy allow quarterback Jarrett Lee more time in the pocket when it is time to throw the ball as they fatigue the defensive line and throw off the opposition's play calling.

Even though they aren't effective in racking up yards (yet), keeping the offense on the field is extremely important as it wears down the defense over time and could be key in the fourth quarter. 

This could also be a good breakout game for Ford and Ware in terms of big plays. WVU ranks 45th in the nation in run defense and has allowed an average of 116 yards a game, not far off Ware's average. The combination of the two players could give the Tigers distance from the Mountaineers on the scoreboard.

Jarrett Lee

LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee may finally be coming into his own behind center as starter this season. West Virginia is ranked 53rd in the nation is pass defense and is averaging more than 200 passing yards against per game this season. 

Lee is coming off his first 200-plus-yard game this season and seems poised for another one. Lee utilized Odell Beckham, Jr. and Rueben Randle to lead the Tigers to victory last week, and the Mountaineers defense is nothing close to that of Mississippi State's, so they can expect to get even more balls thrown their way this week.

Lee has always been a good quarterback, but against WVU he could have his best game as a starter.

LSU's Defense

The LSU Tigers defense is downright scary. Ranked sixth in the nation, the Tigers have only allowed an average of 195 yards a game with just three total touchdowns allowed over the first three games of the season.

The Mountaineers come in riding quarterback Geno Smith and his seven touchdown passes and more than 1,000 yards passing into the game. Unfortunately for WVU, the Mountaineers are an extremely one-dimensional offense and the Tigers know that. Running back Vernard Roberts has just 76 yards on the ground all season and is not a threat to this Tigers defense.

The Tigers have given up an average of 160 yards through the air and just one touchdown to go along with four interceptions so far this season. The defense of the Louisiana State also has five sacks, four of which came last week against Mississippi State, and against a West Virginia offensive line who has allowed four sacks already this season, the predictability of the Mountaineers offense could be a killer. 

Players to look out for on the defensive side of the ball against WVU include Morris Claiborne, Mathieu Tyrann, Bennie Logan and Michael Brockers, who will all be looking to have a second straight week of dominant performances.

Facing LSU as a whole is one thing, but beating their defense is a very daunting task, and it doesn't appear as though that will be happening next week.