LSU never is a bore with Miles

In today's Southeastern Conference, losses are followed by message-board meltdowns.

After Florida succumbed to LSU 33-29 in the Swamp last Saturday night, one dejected Gator typed "Urban Meyer is now 3-3 vs. the dumbest coach in America."

LSU's Les Miles technically has been the nation's dumbest coach only twice, with his bungled clock management last year costing the Tigers at Ole Miss and against Penn State in the Capital One Bowl. Often he's the nation's luckiest coach, with mounting examples including the Auburn game in 2007 and the Tennessee and Florida games this year.

There are also times he must be at least decent. How else would you explain (other than it starts with tal- and ends with -ent) his 57-15 record?

"We're a team that needs to improve," Miles said Wednesday. "Our team understands that and is working to accomplish it. The great thing about the league we play in is that you will have the opportunity no matter who you play to earn your way."

LSU is the only team in the SEC to score first in every game so far this season, which makes Miles a pregame scheming genius. Or at least it makes him look a lot better at the beginning of games compared to when that clock starts ticking down.

Pasquali's Pix:

Vanderbilt at Georgia: Even if the Bulldogs were to win out, their nine victories still would fall short of their 11 arrests. Bulldogs 31, Commodores 20.

Arkansas at Auburn: Could the third time be the charm for the Tigers against their former offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino? Tigers 28, Razorbacks 26.

South Carolina at Kentucky: Steve Spurrier is 17-0 lifetime against the Wildcats, who may not have tailback Derrick Locke. Gamecocks 24, Wildcats 19.

Georgia Southern at UTC: The Mocs have yet to play before two Finley Stadium crowds of 15,000 in the same season, but that might be about to change. Mocs 33, Eagles 28.

MTSU at Georgia Tech: Speaking of Finley Stadium, why don't they play this one there, too? Yellow Jackets 38, Blue Raiders 13.

Western Michigan at Notre Dame: Where were these matchups when Gerry Faust, Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis needed them? Irish 30, Broncos 7.

Mississippi State at Florida: Meyer would catch more grief being 1-1 against Dan Mullen than 3-3 against Miles. Gators 23, Bulldogs 16.

Ole Miss at Alabama: Talk about two starting quarterbacks who never will be confused for one another. Crimson Tide 33, Rebels 21.

Last week:

Winners.....................19

Bounced laterals..........6

Pasquali is now 123-27 overall (82.0 percent) this season.

OTHER PICKS

LSU 41, McNeese State 10

Clemson 27, Maryland 16

FSU 38, Boston College 9

N.C. State 34, E. Carolina 22

Miami 30, Duke 13

Va. Tech 39, Wake Forest 13

N. Carolina 27, Virginia 24

Ohio State 23, Wisconsin 21

Boise St. 59, San Jose St. 6

TCU 48, Brigham Young 14

Nebraska 28, Texas 21

Oklahoma 45, Iowa State 20

Utah 44, Wyoming 15

Michigan St. 31, Illinois 17

Iowa 24, Michigan 21

Arizona 42, Wash. State 28

Nevada 45, Hawaii 34

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