Romp in the Swamp! Does This Mean Alabama Is More Than Ready for LSU?

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) You never look ahead in the SEC, that's how you get beaten, but with Alabama's romp in the Swamp, another in the series of absolute-butt kicking the Tide has inflicted on nationally ranked SEC teams, it is time to ask if the Tide is ready for LSU?

But the real question may be, is LSU ready for this edition of the Crimson Tide?

Yes, LSU has beaten some impressive teams but has not beaten everyone impressively. The Tide, meanwhile, has simply steamrolled every team they've met and made them look like a Division II opponent.

Nick Saban and Jim McElwain have played their offensive cards close to the vest this season. Except for one fake field goal against Arkansas that went for a touchdown, they have some cards they haven't been willing to show up until now. That has been because the Alabama defense was simply able to stifle opposing offenses to the point that it didn't really matter how many points the Tide team put up.

So far, Saban seems content to let this team ride the defense to wins and just have the offense pound it out, kill the clock and let the offense demoralize the team much in the same way the defense does.

Even though Saban is known for not trying to run the score up on opponents, they are averaging 38.4 points per game. LSU is likewise in the top 20 in scoring offenses with a 38.0 per game average.

Where the difference in offense is between the two teams is simple. Alabama lines up, punches you in the face and runs the ball down your throat, averaging over six yards a carry and about 230 yards of rushing per game.

LSU on the other hand, averages less 3.96 yards per carry and just 172 yards a game rushing. That puts them 36 places behind Alabama in the rushing offense stats. And what may even surprise some Alabama fans is that they do a much better job than LSU in the passing department as well.

Alabama has thrown for 208.8 yards a game compared to LSU's 177 yards per game and have a higher completion ratio as well finishing 20 spots above LSU's passing offense.

But what makes each team a dread to play is not the offense, but the defense.

Right now Alabama is the No. 1 rushing defense in the country, allowing just 1.49 yards per carry on average for a game total average of just 39.6 yards per game.

LSU is No. 3, allowing just over two yards a carry and a total average of just 60.4 yards per game or over 35 percent more yards per game than Alabama does.

The question in this game between these two Titans is simple. Can LSU stop Alabama's rushing game the way they have every other team?

So far the two teams have not played a common opponent, and in fact, Alabama has done LSU a big favor in knocking out Florida's starting quarterback from next week's contest against the Tigers in the first game of common opponents.

Alabama is flexing its muscle and apparently getting better each week as you would expect a great team to do.

Last week, that defense held Demps and Rainey, two of the SEC's hottest rushing running backs to an absolute laughable four yards each in total rushing for the entire game.

Even with Florida entering the game with a first time starting quarterback who will clearly be a deer-in-the-headlights kind of player, few doubt that LSU can accomplish this kind of feat even if they stack nine men in the box and dare the young backup to throw on them.

Comparing the stats and tendencies right now, the question is not if Alabama is ready to play the No. 1 team in the country, it should be, is the No. 1 team in the country ready to play Alabama?

Few of us in the media can wait to see the answer.