Daily errata on the Game of the Century of the Century. Previous editions: LSU's offensive awakening ? Alabama's defense sets its own standard. See also: Deconstructing: Alabama plays the numbers game against LSU's sudden love for the long ball. ? Friday Morning Quarterback.
? Taking what they want. In a week loaded with head-to-head comparisons and tales of the tape, an awful lot of arrows have pointed Alabama's way: On paper, the Crimson Tide are dominating virtually all conventional measures, rushing for more yards than LSU, passing for more yards than LSU and allowing less of everything than any other defense anywhere. With the highest scoring margins in the country and a Heisman frontrunner in the backfield, everything about Alabama's season to date lends itself to hyperbole.
With the nation's 81st-ranked total offense, that's not the case for the Tigers, who haven't been all that much better at moving the ball than their less-celebrated predecessors. Where they have been better, and where they clearly separate themselves from Alabama on the stat sheet, is old-fashioned opportunism.
At least part of the reason the offense has largely remained in its shell is simply that it can afford to. Against Oregon, the Tigers forced four turnovers ?�more than the Ducks have committed in any other game since head coach Chip Kelly arrived as offensive coordinator in 2007 ? including a fumbled punt that Tyrann Mathieu took in for the first touchdown of the game. From there, three of the offense's four touchdown drives began in Oregon territory. At West Virginia, the Tigers again forced four turnovers ?�including a tip-drill interception by Mathieu that set up the offense for an easy score from the WVU 1-yard line ?�and stopped a Mountaineer rally dead in its tracks in the third quarter with a kickoff return for touchdown by Morris Claiborne, the first of 21 unanswered points to end the game.
At Tennessee, Claiborne took an interception the length of the field to set up LSU's first touchdown from inside the Vol 10-yard line. Mathieu scored on a fumble return against Kentucky. His temporary replacement, Ron Brooks, scored on an interception that iced the win over Auburn.
As vastly improved as the Tiger offense has been, its primary virtue remains the fact that a) It doesn't give the ball away, and b) It consistently takes advantage of the opportunities created by the other phases. In that context, there's none better: Coming into today, LSU has committed fewer turnovers than any team in the nation ? none in the last five games ?�and scored on a higher percentage of its red zone opportunities than any team except Stanford. Nearly every turnover earned by the defense has been converted into points. If those two trends hold up tonight, the Tigers will have the edge in the only category anyone will care about: The scoreboard.
? Quote of the Day, Part One. "I really can't tell you the truth because I really don't know the truth. But I did 475 easy, and they won't let me go above 475."
? Alabama running back Trent Richardson, on his bench press.
? The important thing is your health. The closest anyone came to new injury news during the week was a report that Alabama running back Eddie Lacy was "noticeably limping" during Wednesday's practice, the last one available to the media, likely the result of a lingering foot injury that's limited his carries for the past month in favor of 245-pound battering ram Jalston Fowler. Otherwise, both teams are remarkably healthy: With LSU center P.J. Lonergan expected to return to the starting lineup after a two-game absence, neither side is missing anyone who's started a game this season.
? Just in case they don't remember me... The closest anyone came to bulletin board material this week was LSU tight end DeAngelo Peterson ?�understandably confident after delivering arguably the biggest play of last year's 24-21 upset in Baton Rouge ?�who said he was looking forward to matching up against Alabama's "slow" linebackers:
"I think I can play a big role because I feel like their linebackers can't guard me one-on-one, and I don't think their safeties can either," Peterson said. "If the ball comes my way, I'll make an opportunity with it."
And Peterson kept going. Asked why he liked the matchup, he said simply, "They're slow. They're big. I don't think they can run with me. I feel like I can get open against their linebackers."
Peterson made some similar comments in another interview with a television station.
He's factually correct in one aspect, at least: 'Bama's linebackers are big, featuring four starters who tip the scales at at least 235 pounds and two, Don'ta Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, who come in at an NFL-sized 260. The only potential flaw in Peterson's thesis: They're all going to be playing in the NFL soon, too. Alabama's response, for the record: Whatever, man.
? Quote of the Day, Part Two. "I don't know anything about Bear Bryant. I really haven't looked at film that much."
? LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery, mistaking Alabama's legendary coach for a current Crimson Tide player.
Quickly? Andy Staples on Alabama's full-time mental conditioning coach. ? The Wall Street Journal on weekly coaches' shows. ? And LSU fans were out in force on Alabama's campus on Friday night.
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Matt Hinton is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
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