re: Bama fans...convince me you should be ahead of LSU

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but Miles and gang had to pull the win out of their rear ends.

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Alabama was literally better than LSU in every major statistical category this year except rushing offense. Alabama actually had a significantly higher average per rushing attempt (5.09 to 4.53) than LSU so even that advantage is really much of an advantage.

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Les Miles is still going to be your coach.

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and he is 2-2 against your coach. next.

Let an Arky settle this one.

If LSU wasn't losing Nevis, Sheppard, and Peterson (the best player from each level of their D this year) then I would say their defense would be equal to or better than Bama's D in '11. Since LSU loses those guys, I just see Bama's D being one step above.

On offense, Bama will have a strong run game, but if a strong run game is all you can rely on for a while, until you get your new QB and WR's going, then I have to give the advantage to LSU's offense. JJ or Mett will lead a stronger offense with more playmakers at WR and its own strong running game (watch out for Ware).

Since neither team is clearly above the other at first glance, you should look to the schedule to see if either team has an easier path to success.


LSU 2011 Schedule

? Oregon
W Northwestern State
? at Mississippi State
W at West Virginia
W Kentucky
W Florida
W at Tennessee
W Auburn
? at Alabama
W Western Kentucky
W at Ole Miss
? Arkansas


Alabama 2011 Schedule

W Kent State
? at Penn State
W North Texas
? Arkansas
? at Florida
W Vanderbilt
W at Mississippi
W Tennessee
? LSU
? at Mississippi State
W Georgia Southern
W at Auburn


Nonconference: LSU has to play Oregon at home and at West Virginia. What were they thinking when they added this to their SEC schedule? Are they trying to win the SOS award or a BCS title? Anyway, Bama has the advantage - Winning at PSU is easier than beating Oregon at home and WVU on the road.

Conference: LSU has to play at Bama, but Bama has to play @ Florida whereas LSU gets Florida at home. They both have to travel to MSU, and both get Arky at home. The head-to-head match may make the difference, or it could come down to one team choking at home verse Arky, or Bama getting chomped in the swamp, or one losing at MSU (all are real possibilities).

Basically, LSU and Bama are too even and there's just too many factors to honestly say one should be perceived better than the other, or that one has a better chance to win it all than the other.

Personally, my $ is on Arkansas. Our only tough road games are at Bama and LSU, but we get every other tough game at home (except A&M is Dallas).

the one resaon bama is a sexier pick: SCHEDULE

other than that i think they're even as far as talent AND COACHING.

for all you idiot bammers still high off saban's farts, get over it, he's not GOD and he's 2-2 vs. miles

Why do people continue to rank teams higher because their schedule is easier? Are we ranking the better team or the team that has the best chance of squeaking through their schedule. (People are ranking Bama ahead of LSU because the game will be played @ Bama) If that's the case, why don't we put Boise #1 with their cakewalk schedule?

I've always hated that logic. And unfortunately, preseason poles dictate the poles during the season so in the end, we're ranking teams based on their ability to get through their schedule, not how good the team actually is.

Would you trade Miles to have Saban back?

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Where they've won 4 of the last 5. Sounds like another positive for LSU.

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And Alabama was 15-3-1 in Baton Rouge since 1969. Did that help them this past season?

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But, LSU, at times looked inept and poorly coached this year, especially on offense.
Bama, at times, looked young (as they were) and made mental errors.
That's the difference.
Bama returns the vast majority of the 2 deep.

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No question LSU had problems on offense at times in 2010, but still managed to defeat the 'Tide.
Yes 'Bama looked young at times but LSU played more freshmen, 27, and return more players on their two-deep than 'Bama. BTW LSU played 20 freshmen in the Cotton Bowl. Every one of them played before the fourth quarter began. I'd say that's a pretty good sign of very young talent.
As for who'll be better next year in the West, it could be 'Bama, LSU or neither. Ark. AU and MSU will all be very good again and the division will be a dog-fight as usual. The one thing I'm sure of is the West > East once again. 5 teams from one division of a conference finishing in the top 15 nationally has never been done before btw. Pretty special.

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Bama fans...convince me you should be ahead of LSU

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No thanks.