Oregeron is ready. Bama are you?

LSU coach Ed Orgeron continues to embrace the challenge of catching up to Alabama.

With the Crimson Tide looming this week, Orgeron isn’t offering empty coach speak about it being just another game. He has repeatedly talked up the importance of this one, a trend that continued during his Monday press conference.

“The Alabama game is very important to Louisiana, our fans, our alumni, our football team,” Orgeron said. “Born and raised in Louisiana, how can you not know that? Everywhere I go, this is the game they talk about. I’m not going to make it so huge to our players that they won’t be able to play. They’ll be ready to play.

“Obviously we have four games left on our schedule, but this is the next one so it’s important.”

Orgeron knows LSU needs to start beating Alabama for recruits to consistently start beating the Crimson Tide on the field. Getting one breakthrough win would go a long way toward getting the Tigers to that level.

“In recruiting, this is huge,” Orgeron said. “They have won the SEC. They’ve won national championships. They’re on top of the world right now. This is the benchmark.”

LSU opens the week as a 21.5-point underdog, the largest line the Tigers have faced since playing then-No. 1 Florida in 1994.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Orgeron said of the point spread. “Thanks for telling me.”

Orgeron’s biggest key to pulling off the ultimate upset? Keeping quarterback Danny Etling upright. Alabama sacked Etling 5 times last year in a 10-0 win over the Tigers.

“We have to protect Danny. That’s the key to this game. It’s a big man’s game,” Orgeron said. “Danny has to be very, very patient. He has to make the right throws, the right decisions. We’ve got to protect him. We’ll have a better plan this year.”