Tennessee @ Louisiana State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2007 ) Tennessee 14, Louisiana State 21

When Les Miles looks at his LSU Tigers, he must go through some terrible mood swings.

His offense statistically is one of the worst in the country. His defense is one of the best. But even with an offense languishing near the bottom in many categories, Miles said he’s right where he wants to be – undefeated.

No. 12 LSU (4-0, 2-0) will try to shut down Tennessee on Saturday in a rematch of the 2007 SEC Championship game. The Volunteers (2-2, 0-1) have been hampered by their inexperience, but showed some maturity in a 32-29 double overtime win last week against Alabama-Birmingham.

LSU is winning with defense and special teams. Their passing offense is 115th in the country, averaging just 110 yards per game. In total yardage, the Tigers average 299 yards per game, which is 102nd. Their saving grace has been a defense that is allowing a scant 12 points a game, fifth in the nation.

Shutdown cornerback Patrick Patterson is also one of the most dangerous return men in the country. Patterson is averaging 28 yards per return and has returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 60-yarder last week. Patterson may even see some time at wide receiver, as Miles tries to inject some life into the offense.

Tennessee had its hands full with UAB last week and wore down against Oregon and Florida the previous two weeks. The Volunteers will need to get their running game in gear in order to upset the Tigers. That's no easy task against an LSU defense that held Noel Devine to just 37 yards in last week's win over West Virginia. After rushing for 272 yards in Tennessee’s first two games, Tauren Poole has been held to just 46 in the last two. The Tigers are ranked first in the SEC in rush defense, allowing 74.8 yards per game.

In their first road game of the season, the Volunteers may have to turn to quarterback Matt Simms, who has been impressive at times. Down three points in double overtime, he found Denarius Moore in the back of the end zone for the game-winning score. The return of top receiver Gerald Jones, who’s missed the last three games with a broken hand, also should give the Vols’ passing game a boost. The Vols’ major bugaboo has been third down, where they’re 119th out of 120 schools (11 of 58, 19 percent).

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson has come under fire for the Tigers’ offensive woes. He hasn’t thrown for 100 yards or a touchdown in the last three games and was intercepted twice and pulled for a series in last week’s win. Running back Stevan Ridley has been the workhorse, leading LSU with 434 yards. He’s carried the ball at least 17 times in every game.