Reader Polls and Comments from Glenn Guilbeau'x live chat: LSU at Arkansas

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How will LSU fare against Arkansas on Friday?
Win big 57%  Win Close 43%

Who would you rather see LSU end the regular football season playing?
Arkansas 17%  A&M 83%

Q: Is the LSU defense worn out?

Glenn Guilbeau: I think LSU has played some very good offensive coaches in the last three games - Ala. off. coord. Doug Nussmeier, Miss. St. coach Dan Mullen and Ole Miss' staff. That's the main reason. LSU has gotten out-game planned somewhat, and the opponents are starting to take advantage of the youth in the secondary. In addition, veterans Tharold Simon and even Eric Reid played better last year.

Q: Which LSU underclassmen enter the draft?

Glenn Guilbeau: Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, maybe Bennie Logan. Maybe Spencer Ware.

Q: Les, a players' coach?

Glenn Guilbeau: Players do love Les and love playing for him. No question about it. Lots of teams don't give up, though. Ole Miss didn't give up.

Q: LSU bowl game?

Glenn Guilbeau: I think it's going to be the Cotton Bowl.

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Glenn Guilbeau ‏@LSUBeatTweet
LES MILES RANT UPDATE: 20,456 hits on YouTube at the moment. That's talk of nation, not LSU's suddenly porous defense.

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Rosetta Stone making sense of LSU at Arkansas

Look at the plot lines as No. 8-ranked LSU heads into the regular-season finale at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Arkansas.

Don't think about anything other than the Hogs: There are understandably a ton of thoughts swirling in the heads of the Tiger players...

Plug those holes: The LSU defense has been very ordinary the last few weeks against the pass, in part because of wide-open spaces receivers are finding easily in the secondary. Whether that's a result of poor man coverage, top-notch passing schemes or a blend of both, it's a problem that has to be fixed or at least improved on against a Razorbacks' offense that churns out right around 300 yards a game featuring an NFL-caliber quarterback in Tyler Wilson and the league's most productive receiver in Cobi Hamilton (80 catches for 1,277 yards, 5 TDs). Yeah, that Cobi Hamilton who caught TD passes of 85 and 80 yards two years ago in a 31-23 Arkansas victory.

Steve B.: "Either way, you're gonna see Ryan Mallett take a knee here for sure..."

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LSU WR James Wright is looking to score in Fayetteville

Yet in 36 career games, Wright hasn't been able to come up with the major landmark play of any football player's collegiate career.

Through 11 games this season, 10 LSU offensive players have combined to score 36 touchdowns. Freshman running back Jeremy Hill leads the team with nine and junior receiver Kadron Boone leads the receivers with four. But as much as the LSU offense spreads around the scoring, somehow Wright has yet to scratch the scoreboard.

"I guess I'm cursed," Wright said. "I haven't scored a touchdown since my senior year of high school."

"He beats himself up about it but I think his time will come," Boone said. "It'll be something special for him."

Wright caught a career-long 48-yard reception on a diving play against Ole Miss and said the increased efficiency of LSU's passing offense in recent weeks gives him confidence he'll be able to have a continued impact...

[jbcarol]

Glenn Guilbeau ‏@LSUBeatTweet
@KevinScarbinsky And didn't have to play Georgia, Fla. or SC in the regular season.

Glenn Guilbeau ‏@LSUBeatTweet
@Blelliott89 Sometimes when you have a tough schedule early as LSU did, you run out of gas toward the end. Bama had one of easier SEC skeds.

[jbcarol]

"I hope and pray the coaching staff continues to trust us, to put the ball in our hands," said LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who leads the Tigers with 44 catches. "We have a great backfield, but sometimes if it's working you don't go to the well too many times."

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU has not played here in 20 years, but it has been here before.

The last two times the Tigers ended their regular season at Arkansas (though the last nine have been southeast of here in Little Rock), they have been in a similar situation — trying to finish off positively a season of what might have been.

In 2008, LSU was trying to salvage a season for an 8-4 finish but it lost 31-30 to a 4-7 Arkansas team that was 1-6 in the Southeastern Conference under first-year coach Bobby Petrino. It was LSU's first loss to a team with such a poor record since Gerry DiNardo was coaching, and the 7-5 and 3-5 Tigers descended to the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Hogs are 4-7 and 2-5 today under very interim coach John L. Smith, who will likely be serving his last game today. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. on CBS.

LSU's last victory in this state was in 2006, 19-17, and the Tigers went on to the Sugar Bowl and a No. 3 finish that set up the national championship season in 2007.

That would be a realistic, best possible scenario ending to this season. The Tigers, 9-2 and ranked No. 7 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, could finish in the BCS Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 in New Orleans, but only if BCS No. 4 Florida (10-1) loses to BCS No. 10 Florida State (10-1) on Saturday in a 2:30 p.m. game on ABC. No. 9 Texas A&M (9-2) and quarterback Johnny Manziel could make it to New Orleans ahead of LSU, however. And even if the Gators lose, they still have wins over both LSU and A&M and would have the same record.

If not New Orleans, the Tigers could find themselves headed for the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 4, or the Capital One in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 1 should the Cotton go for A&M and a possible dream date with Texas. A loss by LSU to the 12-point underdogs would likely nosedive LSU to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 31.

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Rabalais: LSU-Ark. proves seasons can go either way

All told, the body count is now 22. That's the number of players who have been lost, for a game or for the season, since this summer because of injury, suspension, academics or transfers. That list includes 10 players who were projected starters or who started games at some point.

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@ScottRabalais: That fumble was #LSU's 30th takeaway this season and Arkansas' 30th turnover. Both lead the #SEC.

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Joe Schad ‏@schadjoe
Zach Mettenberger in post-game: "May be the only time I ever say this, but, 'War Eagle!'"

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ESPN Instant analysis: LSU 20, Arkansas 13 (with video)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (sic) -- Jarvis Landry's highlight-reel, one-handed 22-yard touchdown catch from Zach Mettenberger looked like a big play in what was going to lead to a blowout.

Not so much.

No. 7 LSU ended up fighting for its BCS-bowl life in what was likely John L. Smith's final game at Arkansas, holding on for a 20-13 win at Razorback Stadium.

It will be argued that Smith was too conservative in this one. Down 17-10 and facing fourth-and-goal inside the 1-yard line, Smith opted to kick an 18-yard field goal rather than go for it. 

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Randy Rosetta ‏@RandyRosetta
Be curious to see if Les Miles will answer how satisfied he was with this offensive game plan. Florida-like lack of imagination. #LSU

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Jim Kleinpeter ‏@JimKleinpeter
More bad playcalling by Les Miles. Why throw on 1st down, even a bubble screen? Then Hill runs OB on 2nd down, handed Hogs 2 1st downs (sic)

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Glenn Guilbeau ‏@LSUBeatTweet
@DaronGoynelsu1 LSU's win over Arkansas reminded me of the Auburn game.