LSU Football: Winners and Losers from Tigers' Win vs. Tennessee

Les Miles said that LSU's performance against the Tennessee "wasn't our best game."

It's clear you have an outstanding football team when a 38-7 drubbing on the road is considered an off week.

Even if LSU could have theoretically played better, the Tigers controlled all phases of the game. So much so that it's difficult (but not impossible) to find any losers from this effort.

Here are the winners and losers from LSU's blowout.

Winner: Jarrett Lee

The senior has improved dramatically since his much-maligned freshman campaign. Lee turned in another supremely-efficient game against LSU, completing 10-of-14 passes for 115 yards and a couple of TD tosses; he has now thrown 10 TD's against only 1 INT.

Lee's performance this year has been reminiscent of past LSU QB's Matt Flynn and Matt Mauck. All they did was lead the Tigers to a BCS title.

Of course, Jarrett Lee hasn't been the only man to take steps under center this year. People may love to create a quarterback controversy, but that talk is all in vain if a two-QB system works as well as it has in Baton Rogue.

As for the other guy...

Winner: Jordan Jefferson

Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson are fast becoming the greatest duo since Hall and Oates. Jefferson would probably be Oates. Jefferson has been in a supporting role since becoming eligible Week 5. His performance against the Vols was the best of his young season.

He did damage with his legs, running for 73 yards and a score on 14 carries. He effectively chewed up clock in the second half, preventing any chance Tennessee had to come back.

Winner: Morris Claiborne and the Pass Defense

Morris Claiborne made the key play to break this game open.

Near the end of the first quarter with the game still scoreless, Tennessee QB Matt Simms attempted to throw the ball deep in LSU territory. Claiborne picked him off, then returned the ball 89 yards to Tennessee's five-yard line.

The offense quickly cashed in, and the Tigers never looked back.

The interception was the highlight of a dominant performance by LSU secondary. Simms, subbing for injured starter Tyler Bray, completed only six passes, and later added another interception.

Winner: Ball Security

To lose to an inferior opponent, a good football team must usually commit costly turnovers. LSU has managed to remove that scenario from the equation.

Saturday's win was yet another turnover-less game for LSU. Their last turnover was a Jarrett Lee INT against Mississippi State. That was four weeks ago.

The Tigers are almost impossible to beat if they don't make mistakes.

Loser: Run Defense

The run defense is a victim of its own success.

Giving up 111 yards on the ground is certainly nothing to be ashamed about. But since its only the second time this year the D has given up over 100 yards, they have to land here.

When this is the worst you can say about LSU, you know they're an alright club.

Loser: Tyrann Mathieu's Heisman Chances

Tyrann Mathieu is undoubtedbly one of the best players in all of college football.

However, a defensive player has to make huge plays every week if they want to take home the Heisman. This might be the first game all year that Mathieu failed to make a highlight-reel play.

It might be unfair to the Honey Badger, but there's a reason only one defensive player has ever one the Heisman trophy. Good offense is more flashy to voters than good defense.

Loser: Brad Wing

Brad Wing must have been terribly upset after his fake punt touchdown was disallowed because of the new unsportsmanlike penalty rule.

But it must have stung even more after the Michigan State player Isaiah Lewis got away with an arguably more egregious taunt against Michigan.

Loser: The Simms Family

Earlier this year, former NFL quarterback Phil Simms got in a heated argument with current ESPN analyst Desmond Howard. Simms took issue to Howard calling his son Matt one of the worst quarterbacks in the SEC.

Maybe Desmond had a point.