LSU Football: How the Kentucky Game Showed the Tigers Are Ready for Florida

No team has been tested more than LSU this season. And likewise, no team has responded to tests better than the Tigers.

Last year's BCS runner-up Oregon at a neutral site? Check.

Visits to ranked Mississippi State and West Virginia. Check and Check.

That said, when he was coaching Florida, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier once said that it is extremely difficult to get a team at an emotional peak more than six games-a-year. The rest of the time, you have to rely on talent, preparation and perhaps a break or two.

So, while no one will compare the magnitude of Saturday's 35-7 victory against visiting Kentucky with the season-opening 40-27 defeat of the then No. 3 Ducks, top-ranked LSU's most recent win was impressive in its own ways.

It would have been easy to excuse a so-so performance against a Wildcats' team with numerous deficiencies on offense, especially with a big game against Florida up next weekend.

But the Tigers were dominant, recording five sacks while allowing just 89 rushing yards on 39 carries (2.3 ypc) and 66 passing yards on 7-of-25 attempts (28-percent). 

Despite the score, the LSU offense hardly was a juggernaut, but UK does have a defense with at least three future pros in linebacker Danny Trevathan, safety Winston Guy and defensive lineman Mister Cobble.

In all, the Tigers ran for 179 yards and passed for 169. And Jarrett Lee may have left the door open for a controversy at the quarterback position with an 8-for-21 outing in the first game since former starter Jordan Jefferson was reinstated after a suspension.

However, LSU played turnover-free football, and this was Kentucky.

No doubt recent history has shown the only surprise that could happen next week is if the Tigers aren't at their best against the Gators.