LSU vs Arkansas: Why the Razorbacks Will Be the Tigers Toughest Opponent of 2011

LSU has been the only constant of the ever-changing BCS standings, as the Tigers have managed to continue their reign of dominance at No. 1 ever since the polls came out back in Week 8.

This season, Les Miles’ team has knocked off six ranked opponents, survived one of college football’s most grueling schedules and even won a “Game of the Century” along of the way, but now the Tigers will receive one of their toughest tests of the season on Friday when No. 3 Arkansas comes to town.

Before the season started, everyone expected that this game would have major implications for the SEC West division, but now it’s also taken on the significance of determining which team will play in the BCS National Championship Game.

With the way things are set up now, LSU seems to be on the road to New Orleans, whether there’s a slip-up or not in the final two weeks. The Tigers could afford a loss to either Arkansas or Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and still probably make it to the title game, but with the way things have been going this season, Miles knows that you can’t leave anything up to chance.

That’s why the coach will have his team prepared for a battle with the Razorbacks, one which is shaping up to be quite a test for his team.

The Arkansas offense, led by emerging star quarterback Tyler Wilson, hasn’t missed a beat without running back Knile Davis this year, as the Razorbacks have utilized their tremendous talent and depth at the wide receiver position and been one of the most productive passing offenses in the nation.

The foursome of Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, Greg Childs and Cobi Hamilton comprises possibly the best receiving corps in the country, and LSU’s secondary, especially Mo Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu, will have to pick it up a notch to keep them all contained.

Arkansas currently ranks 10th in the country in passing, averaging 317 yards through the air per game.

The key for the Tigers will be to figure out a way to get in Wilson’s face early and often, and have guys like Michael Brockers, Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo constantly harassing him.

It’s imperative that the LSU defense finds a way to keep the junior signal-caller constantly on his toes.

If LSU lets Wilson get in his comfort zone, and lets him get into a groove throwing the ball, the Tigers are really going to be in for a long four quarters.

This may not be a true "Game of the Century" but if you lined up the Arkansas offense and the Alabama offense, you may say that the Tide are the bigger, stronger and more physical unit, but it’s the Razorbacks that have the weapons that can really stretch a defense and create explosive plays.

In a game like this, with so much on the line, those are exactly the type of dangerous offenses that you don’t want to face.

LSU has already done enough to earn a berth in the big game, but the Tigers have gotten the unlucky draw of having to now slow down a hot Arkansas offense in order to ensure that they’ll get there.

There’s definitely going to be a battle in Baton Rouge on Friday afternoon, and it will be interesting to see if the Tigers can finish off this 12-round fight in style, or if they’ll have to absorb a few tough body blows from the Razorbacks in order to get the job done.