Stakes high between Bama-LSU

Alabama coach Nick Saban calls it the biggest game of the season — not because LSU visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, but because it’s the next one on the schedule.

Still, a glance at the Southeastern Conference standings and a look at this week’s national polls ends any speculation that it’s just another game.

Third-ranked Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) can clinch the Western Division and a matchup against top-ranked Florida in the SEC Championship Game with a victory.

No. 9 LSU (7-1 overall, 4-1 SEC with a loss to Florida) is eager to wreck Alabama’s postseason plans.

“It only counts one, but it’s a very important one and one that we’ll look forward to preparing for,” Bengal Tigers coach Les Miles said
Monday. “I can tell you that we’ve always wanted to honor our best opponents with our greatest effort, and certainly that’s the intent this week.”

Saban said his team’s goal will be on playing good football — and not fretting over what’s on the line.

“Let’s play our best football, put our players in the best position to have success,” Saban said. “That’s what they need to focus on individually and collectively, that’s what we need to focus on as a team.

“And not worry about the results and the consequences and the scoreboard, but play every play in the game like it has a history and a life of its own and execute and do the things you need to do to have success.”

Alabama is coming off an open date after playing eight straight weeks. It can only hope it returns as sharp and refreshed as LSU since the Tigers’ bye week Oct. 17.

They thrashed Auburn 31-10 and routed Tulane 42-0 in the past two weeks. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson drew criticism as the offense sputtered before the open date.

Sound familiar?

Greg McElroy has heard the same song while the Crimson Tide has scored 22, 20 and 12 points in its last three games.

The junior quarterback said he made progress against Tennessee (18-for-29 passing, 120 yards) and during the bye week.

“We took what the defense gave us,” McElroy said about the Tennessee game. “They’re a bend-don’t-break team, and I was really pleased with my performance. Although we didn’t throw for many yards, it really doesn’t matter because we moved the ball and we didn’t turn it over in the passing game.

“Obviously, there were negatives we wanted to focus on last week, and I feel strongly about the improvements that were made.”

Left guard Mike Johnson said Alabama has done a good job of focusing on each game all season. That’s even easier this week.

“It just so happens that this next game’s a pretty big one for us, pretty important,” the senior said. “I think everybody’s going to be at a little higher level. I mean, it is LSU week. This is always a big game around here, especially in the last few years.”

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain shrugged when he was asked how the team avoids being swept up in the hype surrounding this week.
“We’ve got coach Saban,” McClain said. “It ain’t very hard. He keeps us focused and we’ve got good leadership that keeps us focused.

“It’s a one-game season. That’s how we’re going to take it. We’re going to prepare every day to get better. We just have to face a very good team.”

Saban said he doesn’t want his team distracted by what it has to lose.

“To me, you want to play aggressively and think about what you have to gain,” he said. “Be as good as you can be. Play as well as you can play. ...

“That’s what we would rather focus on than creating a lot of fear and negative motivation about here’s what is going to happen if you don’t. I’m going to threaten you with what’s going to happen if you don’t. It doesn’t work with my kids, it doesn’t work with our players, it doesn’t work with anything. ... It’s negative motivation and I’m not sure people respond well to it.”