The BlogPoll train is running late. The caboose will be along shortly. Probably tomorrow. I was planning on just a few more meteors because inspiration was a late arrival as well. But it did come (nothing special, so don't get your hopes up), so I'm probably a day away.

Until then, bad news!

Tennessee rush v. LSU defense	Tennessee pass v. LSU defense	LSU rush v. Tennessee defense	LSU pass v. Tennessee defense
64 (9)	39 (4)	64 (8)	67 (11)
14 (2)	3 (1)	12 (2)	55 (5)

Field Goals	Tennessee punting v. LSU punt return	LSU punting v. Tennessee punt return	Intangibles
T-12 (3)	40 (4)	48 (5)
T-4 (1)	104 (12)	63 (5)

The numbers in parentheses are SEC conference rankings.

Hmm, this is not looking good.

Schedules:

Sagarin has LSU's strength of schedule ranked 26th and Tennessee's ranked 25th. According to his model, LSU is roughly a six-point favorite. But there's something quite interesting hiding in Sagarin's numbers: LSU has two wins and no losses versus current top 10 teams, but they are 3-2 against current top 30 teams. Tennessee is 1-1 against current top 10 teams but 3-1 against top 30 teams. So we have a better record against top 30 teams, huh? Of course, LSU is more of a top 10-er than a top 30-er, but hey, it's something.

Statistically, LSU should win every phase of this game not involing Britton Colquitt or Dennis Rogan as a punt returner. But there's those not-so-small matters of the coaching distraction and the pain of having just lost your opportunity to play for the national championship. If they're not mentally tough, they may not be able to manage their advantages. But . . . in 1998, when we had a coaching distraction (Cutcliffe interviewing with Ole Miss), we won the SEC Championship 24-14 against Mississippi State and went on to win the National Championship. In 2001, when our dreams of the NC were dashed at the last moment (by LSU, of all teams), we went on to wax Michigan 45-17 in the bowl game. It had to be said.

So. What do y'all see in the numbers? I see only a small ray of hope.