Curious for general thoughts here. I'm not a particularly astute X's and O's guy, but I'm wondering if there's anything specific to a quarterback's decisionmaking that makes a team more prone to giving up the pick-six. Obviously at this point it's a huge problem for us: one vs Auburn, one vs Fla, a near-miss vs South Carolina  returned to about the 5, and two vs UGA.

I can't recall anyone I've watched in college having this problem, but off the top of my head I recall that in the NFL it was a problem for Drew Bledsoe, at least later in his career, and I *think* it became a problem for Kurt Warner in his Giants and early Arizona years.

I acknowledge 10 players on the field other than the QB are also accountable on an INT return, but I wonder whether the odds of a pick-six are increased with a QB's taking a little more risk in his throws, being a little more aggressive, perhaps trying to force it into a spot which has a higher likelihood of a defender there moving towards the ball rather than backpedaling. I have no idea and I could be spouting pure garbage here, but when it's been an acknowledged problem coming into the game and then we toss up two more, it just begs the question of whether there's an underlying fundamental issue which gives rise to so many of these?

Considering this is just getting started, here are some questions I anticipate to be frequently asked.  Except that they won't be because they're answered right here.

1. Who are you?  My name is Richard Pittman.  I am an LSU sports fan, and a fan of the SEC in particular.  I am from Gonzales, LA, but I am now a practicing attorney living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  I am married to a Bama football fan and Kentucky basketball fan.  We have one child.
2. Why should we listen to you?  I'm going to take a "show, don't tell" approach to this question.  Read the content.  If you don't believe it's worth your time to continue to pay attention to it, go about your merry way.
3. Didn't you used to be...?  Probably.  I've been around the internet and message boards a long time.  I was "Potted Plant" on Tigerdroppings and on other sites.  Then I became "Eve of Destruction".  I also ran the blog GeauxTuscaloosa for a little over a year before I took over this.  I've also been on other message boards and such under different names.
4. Who is Poseur?  He's a buddy of mine.  We've known each other since 1993, and even though we've only lived in the same state for about 3 years during that time, we've kept in touch and continue to be close.  Poseur is my go-to expert on college baseball, and he's a general all-around stat-geek.  I am merely a stat-geek in training.  Poseur is also a practicing attorney, living in Dallas.

Our mission is and always has been to bring you interesting and insightful commentary on all things LSU sports-related, as well as whatever else crosses our minds.  Our secondary mission is to provide the platform for a vibrant and healthy community of like-minded fans and decent, respectful fans of other teams.

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i'm going to go ahead and build out the guest network at the IP level and the VLAN9 level. try to work it all the way through to the outside. Will NAT some 192.168.9.0. so, eth2 on the PIX is now tagged VLAN9, but I realize I cant be putting it on the same 192.168.9.0 segment. so now I'm making it be on the same class C that the internal managment i/f is on. but a different subnet. so: 192.168.32.97/255.255.255.252 for a branch switch, router interface: (i.e. mo-3524,fa0/24) switchport mode trunk switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q switchport trunk allowed vlan all dhcp out some 192.168.xx.0 addresses on vlan 9 2620 int fa0/0.9 192.168.xx.1 encapsulation dot1q 9 in the PIX, add a route for the branch's guest network c:\usr\doc\WIFI-vlan-moving-into-production.vsd SC-AP1 vlan 1 native [infrastructure, (not used in SSID)] vlan 2 .57 [SSID=sainthelens, staff, DHCP from SPRUCE] vlan 3 198.207.188 [SSID=handheld, DHCP from somewhere?] vlan 9 192.168.57 [SSID=guest, DHCP from sc-72] with a new web-filter access rule in the pix, directing all port 80 traffic at the websense filter, now the 192.167.57 network should be completely web filtered. some things to fix remain: -- protecting our own general network from the guest laptops. -- VLAN9 interface for the PIX -- also access rules in the PIX to prevent any access to our internal hosts, except public ones -- allowing for other protocols to be used on the guest vlan -- https -- possible other web ports, i.e. 8080 -- anything else we want to offer by policy? SMTP,POP,chats etc, VPN, FTP, ssh alright. guest shouldn't need any EAP/PEAP TLS TKS stuff. but we're going to use IAS/radius. probably have to The default channel setting for the wireless device radios is least congested; at startup, the wireless device scans for and selects the least-congested channel. For most consistent performance after a site survey, however, we recomend that you assign a static channel setting for each access point. The channel settings on the wireless device correspond to the frequencies available in your regulatory domain. See Appendix A, "Channels and Antenna Settings," for the frequencies allowed in your domain. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4570/products_configuration_guide_chapter09186a0080341d17.html "If you are using the 802.1x supplicant provided by Microsoft, the idle time out will be longer than the settings in RADIUS/AP and DSA- 3100. Except for the idle timer, there is no way for the user to logoff from 802.1x Access Point in the current 802.1x implementation by Microsoft." -- Dlink DSA3100 manual

I certainly do feel bad for the rest of the nation outside SEC country in that they're going to have to deal with all the retarded folk who use the title game as yet another example of OMGLOLWTF SEC domination of the whole universe!!!!11!!!1!!!

We'll try to keep it levelheaded here; and in my pregame commentary I was in no way trying to merely be conservative in picking the Tigers 14-13, I honestly had no belief whatsoever that we could put up six scoring drives on the best CFB defense in years. The argument that "they haven't played anyone" more or less rang hollow after Kansas put Va Tech away in the Orange Bowl; and yes, I know any ACC game in the BCS should be chalked up to the opponent, but still...I'm still flabbergasted.

And the consensus got it right. When we were up 38-17, I found myself thinking "My god, the average message board imbecile got it right." Well, whatever. You'll never hear me complaining. One of our regular commenters got pretty close with a 31-17 prediction over on SMQ's page. So hats off, crep!

(While you're over at SMQ, check out his great "Chain-link victories" post today, showing things like how the transitive property of victories can lead to Grinnell over LSU.)

Anyway, I participated in the last CFB Weekly Podcast of the season. We discussed the title game and I was asked to pick the winner if the 2007 Tigers took on the 2003 title team. Not sure about you folks, but I'd give that one to the 2003 squad. Miles has proven plenty, and I probably owe him an apology for some heated commentary after the Ar-Kansas game, but in the end I just trust a Saban-coached squad more at this point. Now, give Les a month to prepare for that game and I suppose he could pull out even with anybody, so who the heck knows. But that 2003 defense was tremendous, led by DT Chad Lavalais (pictured, right, courtesy USA Today), Marquise Hill, Marcus Spears, Corey Webster, etc. etc. etc.

Anyway, you can get the 2007 stats HERE and the 2003 stats HERE. Do the comparison yourself. Rekindle those memories of 2003 yourself. Then tell me who you think would win? This year's offense was obviously the best we have ever put together, so I'm sure it'd be close, at the very least.

Catch the video of Les on the Best Damn Sports Show here.

In basketball news, our SEC Opener did not go so well, as we lost 61-39 to Mississippi State. We shot 14-66 (21%) from the field. What's the opposite of "superlative"? Because I wouldn't have enough to describe John Brady's coaching ability. I don't know if they closed the dozens-of-pages-long "Fire John Brady" thread on TigerDroppings, but the sentiment's still there.

Joel from Rocky Top Talk has once again done the hard work and put together his animated drive chart of the BCS Title game, so go on and relive last night's glory HERE

Feels great the second time around, too!

Clearly, the SEC Speed thing was overblown. Best I can tell, no one saw it coming (with the exception of SMQ and possibly Pete Fiutak at CFN): the SEC isn't a bunch of Nancy Boys who can only outrun other teams to victory; LSU, at least, can win - and has won - by simply being more physical. We pointed it here three days ago, to wit:

Well, yeah. That's pretty much what we did. Took an early punch, got up and rolled off 31 unanswered without a single big-yardage play. Let's examine some post-game analysis from the media. Mid game from CFN's Pete Fiutak:

Later, also from Fiutak (with admittedly a couple comments in between about our getting handled at times):

Post game from ESPN's Mark Schlabach:

And so on.

So congratulations, Les Miles. You're 34-6 in three years, with an SEC Title and a National Title - whether or not it required some divine intervention - and three rather dominating bowl performances in a row. We're glad you stayed.

Meanwhile, LSU is by far and away the first place team in the final AP Poll. 60 1st place votes to Georgia's 3, USC's 1, and Kansas' 1.

vs

After a month, it is finally upon us - our Fighting Tigers will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes for the national title, and the only team in college football to own two crystal ball trophies. Kickoff's at 8pm Eastern on Fox.

The talking heads have weighed in, with the clear consensus being:

• First, that it is unequivocally impossible for Ohio State to come out and get rolled for a second straight year; the Buckeyes have learned their lesson and Jim Tressel would never let that happen. They've been steaming over it for a year.
• 
  
  
• Second, that the Buckeyes are by no means inferior to LSU in the speed department, and all this talk of "SEC Speed" is just garbage.
• 
  
  
• Third, Jim Tressel is a far better coach than Les Miles.
• 
  
  
• Fourth, that because a 100% healthy LSU team is simply more talented than Ohio State, none of the above matters and LSU wins anyway on the strength of the home crowd.
• 
  
  

I love gauging the consensus because much of it is often wrong, when examining it after the fact. So mark it down: surely a couple of the above points will be proven incorrect tomorrow (most likely the final one, simply because SO MANY people are picking LSU and the favorite has simply not acquitted itself well at all in these title games).

Reading through the predictions (see talking heads link above for one set of examples), it's gotten customary to see experts forecasting a total score in the range of mid-40s to 50s. The two things I haven't seen predicted anywhere (which, incidentally, leads me to believe it's far more likely to happen) are: 1) an Ohio State blowout, and 2) an LSU victory with both teams struggling to attain double digits in points. Now, no 7-6 score is ever really all that likely, but in the case of these two teams I really feel like a final score in the 14-13 range is by no means out of the question.

My two biggest worries, in order, are:

1. Offensive line's ability to protect Flynn
   
2. Defensive line's inability to get pressure on Boeckman, resulting in his finding open receivers downfield.

I think the punters will be busy tomorrow. Godspeed, Patrick Fisher!

LSU, 14-13.

Comments? Predictions? Come one, come all, and weigh in with your own thoughts! Be as crazy as you'd like, no one's going to remember after the fact if you're wrong, and you'll get showered with accolades from near and far if you're right.

One of the benefits of having a roommate who works for Fox Sports is that I get lots of statistical goodies sent to me. Now, everyone knows that Ohio State is 0-8 against the SEC in bowl games (what the hell the 1977 Alabama-Ohio State tussle has to do with the 2007 LSU-Ohio State matchup is beyond me), but Did You Know:

• Of the five teams who have made back-to-back BCS Title Game appearances - FSU 98-99, FSU 99-00, Oklahoma 03-04, USC 04-05 - four of them have lost the repeat appearance? FSU in 99 is the only team to buck that trend, and Oklahoma is the only team with a loss in both those appearances.
• 
  
  
• Among receivers with 50 receptions, OSU's Brian Robiskie has the 4th highest yards-per-catch average in the nation at 17.7.
• 
  
  
• Ohio State has allowed only TWO rushing TDs all year? For all the damage Illinois did on the ground, Juice wound up with his 4 TDs through the air. Anyway, since 1996 (as far back as Stats, Inc. went in this), the mere 2 TDs allowed is the lowest total any team has put up (a few have yielded 3).
• 
  
  
• On the flip side, LSU leads the nation with 9 different players having scored a rushing TD this year. And our 34 rushing TDs this year is 5th highest in I-A (aka FBS). So which will give, the LSU ground game or the OSU rushing defense?
• 
  
  
• LSU has scored 21 or more points in 20 consecutive games, 2nd in the nation to Hawaii's 25. Ah wait, Hawaii's streak is D-U-N. That means we're #1. Only one team (Illinois) scored more than 17 all year on Ohio State, so once again, which will give?
• 
  
  
• Stats points out that Jacob Hester has gotten progressively better by down this year, with a 4.3ypc average on 1st down (114-487), a 5.2 average on 2nd down (59-308), and an 8.1 average on 3rd down (27-219). This is a bit misleading, however, as Hester's massively aberrational 87-yard TD run against La Tech was on 3rd down. Absent that, his average would actually be 4.7 (26-122).
• 
  
  
• Tiger fans know to fear not if we're behind going into the 4th quarter (unfortunately the logic can't convince my heart to quit pounding anyway), and for good reason - we're 2nd in the nation in 4th quarter point differential at +83 (136-53). Oklahoma is first at +91.
• 
  
  
• We're 3rd in the nation in turnover margin at +18 (15 gives vs 33 takes). Also tied for #1 in fewest fumbles lost with 3.
• 
  
  
• For all the supposed deterioration of our defense over the last month and change, LSU is 2nd in the country in opponents' completion percentage, yielding only 46.4%. Arkansas, of all teams, is first at 45.7%.
• 
  
  
• As this is Bo Pelini's last game roaming the sidelines for the Tigers, I figured I'd finish with a tip of the hat to him. Since he took over as defensive coordinator in 2005, LSU has held its opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards 26 times, good for #1 in the nation (tied with Florida). Even with all our frustration after that Arkansas game, Bo still deserves a well-earned tip of the hat for the above accomplishment.
• 
  
  

In other news, did you know that Les Miles is an idiot? (HT: MW) Because, you see, I haven't heard anyone ever assert that, so it's news to me. Definitely a first. I guess I'd been so deep in the Miles-to-Einstein comparisons that I just didn't even know such blaspheming could exist.

Essentially, forget about speed or strength or talent or home field or any of the other stuff - the only thing this game is going to boil down to is the simple fact that we've got a moron roaming our sidelines, ergo our hide is cooked. Why even bother to show up and play the game?

/sarcasm off

SMQ has his typically excellent preview pieces up for the BCS Title game. Part 1 is here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here. I posted a response to Part 1 on the thread, in brief: I merely take exception to his characterization of our passing game (I think he's being a bit too favorable). Again, I just think that the onus is on Flynn (and RP, if necessary) to show us that he can be accurate if called upon to throw the ball more than 20 yards downfield.

Straight from the coaches' mouths: tomorrow night, we will see Ryan Perrilloux mixed into the game plan, akin to the way things were at the beginning of the season. 10 plays, plus or minus a few depending on the flow is what we should expect.

What remains to be seen is whether it's all options and keepers or if he's given the all-clear to let fly downfield.

Nebraska fans far and wide will be watching and likely cheering for LSU (or cheering for our defense, at least) as their new head coach Bo Pelini will be calling our defensive shots tomorrow night. In that vein, Brandon at the MidwestCoastBias blog asked me a few questions to get my opinion on Bo, and I obliged with my answers here. Dear faithful couple readers, I'd be curious to know your thoughts on Mr. Pelini especially the positive and negative in-game traits which I addressed. Did I leave anything out? Get anything wrong, in your view? No need to be gentle!

Less relevant for tomorrow but great for LSU nonetheless, we picked up a five star recruit over the weekend, CB Patrick Johnson of Florida. On a down note, we evidently missed the boat entirely on arguably the top recruit in the country, QB Terrelle Pryor of Pennsylvania, who gained MVP honors in the high school US Army All-American Bowl this weekend. Win some, lose some.

Lastly, The Golden Band from Tigerland is trying to raise $5mm for a new band hall by August 30th, an amount which will be matched by the State of Louisiana if the deadline is met. Head over there and donate if you're able, and feel free to send the link along to as many fellow Tiger fans as you can.

NBCSports.com is doing a "Blogger Bowlnanza" in which they're interviewing bloggers from the respective schools for each of the bowl games. For the title game I was asked to come on along with Ryan from Around the Oval. The video's up here. Don't anyone say that I don't respect the Ohio State Buckeyes! I gave them the big edge on defense and in coaching.

The third trivia question I got was amusing, as it's the game on which this very site's name is based. Anyway, onwards...(and I've gotta get those "Uhhh"s out of my radio voice!).

My answers to the questions from Around the Oval have been posted over there. Feel free to have a read and post there or here with your own take on the matter.

I'll post his answers to my questions as soon as I receive them.

Based on articles I've read and conversations I've had with friends over the past month, it's fairly evident that the rest of the nation is sick of hearing about "SEC Speed." Well, so am I

The whole concept ignores SEC Power.

No question speed is crucial and can separate the elite from the chaff. But what use is speed if a team's busy getting overpowered? In Tommy Moffitt, LSU has one of the best strength & conditioning coaches in the country. Again I emphasize the first part of that title: STRENGTH. He's won multiple college and high school coach of the year awards for that position, and deservedly so.

I'm not sure where the database of this is kept at the moment, but it's been mentioned in Tigervision broadcasts that LSU boasts a number of players who can bench press 500 lbs or more (searching this blog for my own comments on the matter, I see that it was 9 players as of the Tulane game in 2006).

Pretty much every article written about the SEC Speed stereotype, though it attempts to point out that it's nearly neutral between Ohio State and LSU, simply fails to address the issue that it's almost insulting for the SEC to get talked about as if it's mere speed that sets the conference apart. And perhaps there's nothing that really does set the conference apart, but for all the discussion about how fast the SEC is, lost in it all is the simple fact that if it came down to a knock-down, drag-out trench-war battle between LSU and any other team in the country - Ohio State included - we wouldn't come across too shabby ourselves. I'm not saying other conferences aren't powerful, but one gets the distinct feeling from listening to all this discussion that not a single person expects LSU to win if the speed issue were neutralized. Everyone goes out of his way to concede that Ohio State is plenty fast themselves, and everyone seems to be picking LSU anyway (be it for the alleged talent discrepancy or home field advantage), but in doing so NO ONE is taking any care to say "Hey, if LSU got punched in the mouth by Ohio State, could it get up and simply overpower its opponent? Could it win the game simply because it can win the battle in the trenches?"

That aspect has been completely swept under the rug, as far as I can tell, and I'm guessing if we DO win the title on Monday night, the following morning's headlines will be talking about the massive void in discussing the sheer strength of the LSU Tigers (and yes, I've seen Vern Gholston's biceps...again, this isn't a relative discussion). It isn't all about speed in the SEC - just ask Glenn Dorsey and Jacob Hester, who don't earn their living OUT-running you, just OVER-running you. Hopefully the nation can get that through its collective head sooner or later. Hopefully they'll learn it Monday night.

Images courtesy LSUsports.net (Moffitt), The Advocate (Hester).

Many apologies for camping out under a bus these past few weeks. I just launched a hedge fund into a market that saw the worst opening for the Dow since 1904, so I've been a bit distracted by real world responsibilities. I'll have more Q&A with Around the Oval shortly, as he should be posting my answers to his questions pretty soon.

Anyway, Happy New Year and Geaux Tigers!

Sorry for the extended absence. A long layoff for the Tigers and some pretty heavy work demands on my end in the middle of the holiday season (and my birthday! Happy birthday to me!) resulted in my taking a little hiatus, and now I'm refreshed.

As we've got another 10 days to the title game, we've got plenty of time now to discuss all the goings on. I'm going to get things started again by introducing Ryan from Around the Oval, our network's excellent Ohio State blog. We'll be doing an extended Q&A leading up to the national title game. Here is the first installment, hope you enjoy it. (FYI, he's got my answers to his questions posted here, so feel free to let me know what you think about my answers to his questions.)

Thanks Ryan! As I mentioned earlier, he and I will be continuing this over the next week and change heading into the game.

Thoughts? Comments? Holiday wishes? I Tivo'd SportsCenter tonight and will need to watch it later to see what they're saying about this Buckeye Speed thing...no comments just yet.

Am I the only one who finds the following Rivals headline just a wee bit amusing?

Click image for larger version

Sorry for the absence. We've got some downtime till the big game and I needed to really buckle down on my actual job. Oh real world, how you intervene.

So, we've had Les get his contract extended to 2012, which I think most of us are fairly pleased with (especially given the results of the poll we conducted); but then he spoke to Michigan, only to tell 'em he's staying with us. I have no idea what to think of this, nor will I prognosticate (like that?), but I don't think anyone would be wise to take anything as the gospel truth until Michigan officially names someone else as coach. For the record: clearly Les thus far has been a FAR classier individual than, say, Bobby Petrino (see below), but so has Britney Spears. But who the hell knows what could happen next?

The awards have been piling in for Glenn Dorsey: Lombardi, Outland, Lott, and Nagurski. Meanwhile, he's on every All American team imaginable (and kudos to Steltz and Highsmith for getting 1st and 2nd team AP All American honors, as well).

The Advocate's Sam King wonders if he's the best DT LSU has ever seen. It's an impressive list (hell, even the last decade alone produced all time greats like Booger McFarland, Chad Lavalais, Claude Wroten, and Kyle Williams), and I don't think there's any doubt he's at the top (two-time All-American? Come on, it's no contest.).

I'll say this much: I'm taking a helluva lot of flak about LSU from just about every random college football fan I meet. While they all acknowledge Dorsey's injury has meant something, not a damn one seems to realize just how ridiculously good Glenn Dorsey really is.

Yes you are #1, big guy.

I was on last week's CFB Weekly radio show discussing the madness of the Michigan coaching rumors and our berth in the national title game.

I think even the vast majority of the Saban-hating LSU populus (of which we are not a member, we're part of the "Saban's still okay but Bama sucks anyway" populus) would have to agree that we now have an even more monumental prick in our division. Bobby Petrino, kick 'em while they're down why don't ya? I'm certain every big name recruit will take your word when you tell them that you'll be there to see them through all four (er, three) years of their careers. Anyway, Geaux Saints for destroying that rat bastard in his final game with the Falcons, and now as a Saints fan I have to say, as much as I hate the Falcons I can't help but feel sorry for the franchise's fans. I won't wish them success, not while we share the division, but I do wish 'em SOMETHING better ahead. Good riddance to bad rubbish, and I'll love LSU beating the tar outta the Hogs henceforth (although it might be difficult if Petrino actually does manage to get some talent with which to work). Anyway, head over to The Falcoholic for their grumblings over the whole ordeal.

I would say something about the basketball team's horrific blown 21-point lead with 8:30 left against 'Nova, but I actually turned off the game not long after we got to that 21, so I can't constructively comment. Scott Rabalais has some advice.

For lots of juicy details on how the whole Miles situation went down, definitely go check out the Michigan blog MGoBlog, one of the best CFB blogs around. They've got anonymous emails from former players on Miles' side, 3500-comment threads, and all kinds of other general craziness.

Bo Pelini will coach us in the Title Game. I don't know what to think of it yet, but I'll come to a decision before the game and post it so I can't go back and second guess it depending on how the defense plays. I'm leaning towards "bad idea," given Mark Richt's regretful comments on the Bowl Selection Show about his lame duck period with Florida State prior to moving on to Georgia.

Random musings: this whole thing still sorta has a slightly guilty feel to it, doesn't it? Not just because there's some debate about who deserves it, but just because we didn't handle our business and are merely fortunate beneficiaries of the most bizarre season in college football history. We are lucky, no doubt about it. That said, I have no doubt we deserve it over any team in college football:

• USC: Playing rather well, but losing as a 6-TD favorite at home in the greatest upset in college football history makes their candidacy entirely invalid. Sorry. That just can't happen. Ever. ANY other team on the schedule, perhaps with the exception of Notre Dame or Idaho, and the world would be cool with it. But not Stanford. Understand, world: Stanford is no better than Appy State. In fact, Stanford would probably lose 6 or 7 out of 10 to those Mountaineers. That loss is a well-deserved permanent black eye.
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• Oklahoma: Has a legit argument. I'm surprised neither Kirk nor Brent on Saturday night were mentioning OU's candidacy. But alas, they lost Bradford for one game, and spotted Texas Tech a 3 TD lead that was too much to overcome. But then, we lost our QB and won the SEC Title. We win.
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• Virginia Tech: If only they'd played 60 minutes instead of 57 vs BC the first time around, we wouldn't even be having this argument. Yet a 6 TD loss to another contender reigns supreme. (Even better payback for 26-7 in Blacksburg in 2002, baby!)
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• Kansas: Lost to the ONLY good team they played all year.
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• Georgia: I love the intellectual dishonesty from Mark Richt. He thinks there should be a rule preventing conference champions from going to the title game, but since there isn't, then hey, what about us? You know, even without the SEC Title they might have an argument if they'd lost by one or two to Tennessee, but laying such an egregiously bad egg is just too much to overcome.
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• Then there's us. Unquestionably THE best win of the season, 48-7 over the team that finished first in the computer polls. Went through a gauntlet of a schedule and emerged just as scathed as most anyone else, with two losses. NEVER got blown out like Georgia or Va Tech, didn't trip up against massive underdogs (read, folks: Stanford +40 at USC, La Tech was +36 at LSU. What would the world think had we lost to La Tech?), sustained some pretty serious injuries (All American WR Early Doucet, All American DT Glenn Dorsey, QB Matt Flynn) which on the whole were just as damaging as anyone this side of Oregon. I think the "undefeated in regulation" argument is a joke, so I'll offer no defense there. We lost, plain and simple. But seriously, to the idiots saying we gave up half a hundred to Arkansas, why the hell are you losing your sanity and not paying attention to the fact that it was 28 in regulation? Anyway, on the whole whether or not our wins involved a dash of luck or general shakiness, it's a year in which we're just fortunate that external forces aligned to let us in the back door and give us a shot at the cyrstal ball. And for that I'm grateful.
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And to the many people who are arguing that it should be based on who's playing the best ball right now, if your teams weren't involved, in any other year would you not be lamenting the nonsensical unwritten "early loss is better" rule? Don't be disingenuous; and don't complain because your team's on the other side of some argument this year.

Readers, you guys have anything to add there? Curious if I'm the only one who feels just a wee bit icky about the whole thing. Mountain Man seems to share my sentiment. It just doesn't feel quite as wholesome as it should. Certainly not on 2003's level.

Anyway, our fellow SBN Ohio State blogger Around the Oval will be covering the OSU angle all month, so head over there for their take on the world.

vs

And so it's set. LSU and Ohio State. Jan 7th. For the right to claim the crystal ball, and become the first team to lay claim to two of them.

Pardon me for one second:

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Ahem. That is all.

Not all the rankings have been released, but with the Coaches ranking us 2nd, it's as good as done - after all the drama over the past couple weeks, LSU will be playing Ohio State for the national title. There are no media reports yet, I just direct you to one very knowledgeable fella on the Tiger message boards. Essentially, the math works out such that we'd need to drop to around 10th in the yet-to-be-released Harris Poll in order to miss out. This, as you know, is not likely.

Meanwhile, it looks like we'll be facing off with Ohio State minus Bo Pelini - Nebraska's called a press conference for 4pm Central today. Head over to Corn Nation for their take on the matter.

Now for some random hilarity: Paul Westerdawg from the excellent Georgia Sports Blog is sending Dave Wannstedt a fruit basket after Pitt knocked off West Virginia. Georgia still harbored some feeble national title hopes, but at the very least now, they'll likely get a not bad consolation prize similar to ours last year - a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

You've got to be kidding me...then again, this is 2007, the craziest college football year any of us could ever remember. To recap:

• Ok, we did our job and won the SEC Title.
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• Pitt, a 28-point underdog, beat West Virginia
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• Oklahoma, as expected, knocked off Mizzou
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And all of a sudden, we are back in the national title hunt. So, what is the chance that when tomorrow's BCS standings are released (at 8pm Eastern on FOX, by the way), that LSU is in the championship game? The folks wagering at Tradesports.com are giving us about a 60% chance of being in the national championship game (my math = we're at 30% chance to win it all, and I'm assuming the market is certain Ohio State is in it, and giving them 50% odds. So we take 30% of those 50% remaining odds, meaning we're at 60%, by far and away the market leader at this point).

I'm an investment manager, and I like the market. It could be wrong, hence the 40% odds being left for the rest of the field...but allow me to say I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. We are the odds on favorite to be IN the title game. And that's all we can ask for.

Give Glenn Dorsey (and everyone else) a month to heal, and bring on anyone, baby.