The LSU-Alabama game promises to be one heck of a barn-burner on Guy Fawkes Day (that's Nov. 5, for all you youngins and non-comic book fans), but controversy has erupted on "First Take" (as it often does) regarding the spread. Although LSU is ranked No. 1 in the country (a ranking SportsNation agrees with), Alabama is favored by five-and-a-half points -- and it's been moving in the Tide's direction. Is LSU being given nearly enough credit?

More: Aside from questions of lines and spreads, which team will win?

• "Not a Bama or LSU fan, but I think it's a no brainer. Bama wins by two touchdowns. The game will be competitive but the outcome will never be in question." -- SN commenter invited112
• "I'm not understanding why people are already giving this to Alabama. After playing each team, I remain more impressed by LSU." -- SN commenter bjfly17
• "Bama wins this one close. Last time Saban had a year to stew over a loss he demolished the other team. I should know it was my team he demolished." -- SN commenter grndmstrGATOR

Have defense, will travel. That seems to be the philosophy for LSU this season, and it has taken the Tigers all the way to the top of the AP poll. Saturday's win at West Virginia marked LSU's third big win away from home, joining a list that includes a neutral-site win against Oregon and a road win at Mississippi State. But are the Tigers the best team now and for the long run? Rank 'Em: Is LSU your No. 1 team?

• "Not surprised that LSU jumped OU. I am surprised that Alabama didn't pass them both. Thought they looked best against a highly ranked opponent. LSU should have killed WV, but they didn't." -- SN commenter Calfirebird1960
• "Can somebody please explain who gave Boise State a vote for the top ranked? They have not beaten anybody good. Schools like LSU and Alabama are much better than UGA is. Them two schools would put a hurting on BSU." -- SN commenter Papabear201174

Which team would win on a neutral field?

•  
  77%
  LSU
•  
  23%
  Oklahoma

(Total votes: 14,170)

Which team would win on a neutral field?

•  
  78%
  LSU
•  
  22%
  Boise State

(Total votes: 14,082)

Which team will win at Alabama on Nov. 5?

•  
  54%
  LSU
•  
  46%
  Alabama

(Total votes: 10,618)

Which of these top-10 teams would have the best chance to beat LSU on a neutral field?

•  
  9%
  Nebraska
•  
  22%
  Oklahoma State
•  
  14%
  South Carolina
•  
  20%
  Stanford
•  
  36%
  Wisconsin

(Total votes: 10,230)

LSU may be the only team in the country capable of running up the score in a game in which it scores 19 points. The Tigers created a little breathing room with 10 points in the fourth quarter of Thursday's 19-6 win at Mississippi State, but the three field goals they totaled through three quarters would have been enough. We invited you to rank SEC defenses earlier this week, but have the Tigers graduated to other competition?

• "I am a sort of a Bama fan cause I lived in T Town for around five years, but they are going to be in trouble with this defense, probably the best in the SEC. I mean Miss St. had plenty of points and yards against Auburn but nothing against this LSU defense." -- SN commenter bondsbay
• "LSU dominated this game, it wasn't even close. Remember they aren't an offensive juggernaut. They let their defense keep the game close and open it up toward the end when the other team is exhausted. They are really, really good. I'm an Arkansas fan and hate saying that, but its true." -- SN commenter jimmyb56

Which group is tougher on offenses?

•  
  38%
  LSU defense
•  
  62%
  Phillies starting rotation

(Total votes: 67,922)

Which team is better right now?

•  
  58%
  LSU
•  
  42%
  Alabama

(Total votes: 73,371)

What's your take on LSU's offense?

•  
  29%
  Big championship liability
•  
  51%
  Small championship liability
•  
  20%
  Not a championship liability

(Total votes: 4,280)

• Vote: Is Michigan a better head coaching job than LSU?

• Rank 'Em: Where does Miles rank among SEC coaches?

You can practically hear the sighs coming from LSU's campus as Les Miles' decision to stay at LSU has finally been confirmed. Whether those are sighs of relief or frustration, however, is open to debate.

Miles is 62-17 with a national championship at LSU, although his decision-making has been called into question in recent years. An 11-2 season and a Cotton Bowl win is nothing to scoff at, but in the high-octane and intensely competitive SEC, anything less than an undefeated season is tantamount to failure. LSU seemed hesitant and unsure in the fourth quarter of a loss to Auburn, and was unable to hold on to a late lead in an upset against Arkansas. Will LSU ever be a national championship contender again under Miles?

• "As a TN fan, I know that anywhere from 20-60+% of LSU fans want Les Miles fired at any time, depending on the last game, or even the last play. He has four 11-win seasons in 6 years, and is the only coach to lead a 2-loss team to a BCS championship. And he is certainly one of the most entertaining coaches of all time." -- lodger16xyz
• "Smart move by Les. He's no dummy (although he plays one on TV). He knows a good thing and right now the LSU job is a better situation than the Michigan job. The talent base at LSU is so much better than at Michigan. Yes UM was once a force on the national scene but those days are over." -- jromcja

Vote: Notre Dame vs. Miami
1. Which coaching gig is better?
2. Would you rather rebuild with Brian Kelly or Al Golden?
3. What does Jacory Harris' future look like?
4. Is renewing this rivalry still a big deal?
5. Which team will win in El Paso, Texas?
Vote: Hyundai Sun Bowl

Vote: No. 20 South Carolina vs. No. 23 Florida State
1. Do Steve Spurrier's Florida ties matter?
2. Which quarterback is better when healthy?
3. Who is South Carolina's real offensive star?
4. Which program has a tougher life?
5. Which team will win in Atlanta?
Vote: Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31, ESPN/ESPN3, 7:30 ET)

Vote: No. 16 Alabama vs. No. 9 Michigan State
1. Which roster has more overall talent?
2. Which quarterback has the edge?
3. Just how good is Mark Ingram this season?
4. Is Alabama Nick Saban's last job?
5. Which team will win in Orlando?
Vote: Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1, ESPN/ESPN3, 1 ET)

Vote: Florida vs. Penn State
1. Will Joe Paterno be coaching in 2012?
2. How tough will replacing Paterno be?
3. Is Robert Bolden the QB of the future?
4. Will the Gators be motivated?
5. Which team will win in Tampa?
Vote: Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, ABC, 1 ET)

Vote: No. 11 LSU vs. No. 17 Texas A&M
1. Will LSU be motivated to play in a non-BCS game?
2. Is there a better job for Mike Sherman?
3. Which high-profile QB was a bigger disappointment?
4. Will LSU be able to run the ball?
5. Which team will win in Dallas?
Vote: Cotton Bowl

Vote: No. 2 Auburn at No. 11 Alabama
1. Mark Ingram or Cam Newton for NFL?
2. Does Heisman hinge on result?
3. Is Auburn untested on the road?
4. Cam Newton or Bo Jackson?
5. Which team will win in Tuscaloosa?
Have your say on Auburn at Alabama

Vote: No. 4 Boise State at No. 19 Nevada
1. Kellen Moore or Colin Kaepernick?
2. Would this be Boise's best win?
3. Is Boise's defense underrated?
4. Rooting for or against Broncos?
5. Which team will win in Reno?
Have your say on Boise State at Nevada

Vote: No. 21 Arizona at No. 1 Oregon
1. Darron Thomas or Nick Foles?
2. Toughest hurdle for Oregon?
3. Bye week crucial for Arizona?
4. Lesson learned from Cal win?
5. Which team will win in Eugene?
Have your say on Arizona at Oregon

Vote: Michigan at No. 8 Ohio State
1. Must-win for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan?
2. Denard Robinson or Terrelle Pryor?
3. Has Ohio State's domination hurt rivalry?
4. Which program has richer history?
5. Which team will win in Columbus?
Have your say on Michigan at Ohio State

Vote: No. 13 Oklahoma at No. 9 Oklahoma State
1. Landry Jones or Brandon Weeden?
2. Which receiver has brighter NFL future?
3. How good is the Bedlam rivalry?
4. Barry Sanders or Adrian Peterson?
5. Which team will win in Stillwater?
Have your say on Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

Vote: No. 5 LSU at No. 12 Arkansas
1. Ryan Mallett or Patrick Peterson for NFL?
2. Has Jordan Jefferson hit his stride?
3. Would you hire Les Miles or Bobby Petrino?
4. Can LSU still win the national title?
5. Which team will win in Fayetteville?
Have your say on LSU at Arkansas

Vote: No. 18 Texas A&M at Texas
1. Who has keyed the Texas A&M turnaround?
2. How much longer will Mack Brown coach?
3. Is Garrett Gilbert the answer in Austin?
4. Is no bowl just as good as a bad bowl?
5. Which team will win in Austin?
Have your say on Texas A&M at Texas

Vote: Florida at No. 22 Florida State
1. Which team will be better in 2011?
2. Was Florida overrated or is it underachieving?
3. Is Jimbo Fisher the right guy for Florida State?
4. Would Florida win the ACC?
5. Which team will win in Tallahassee?
Have your say on Florida at Florida State

• Vote: GameDay Pick 'Em | Heisman Watch

Game 1: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 3 TCU at No. 5 Utah

• Is TCU's defense really that much better than Utah's defense?

• Will Boise State be better off in the MWC than Utah in the Pac-10?

• Vote on those and other questions about TCU at Utah!

Jake (Honolulu, HI)

Utah seems to be coming in under the radar.. do you give them any chance this weekend? Do they hop Boise with a W?

Pat Forde

Jake: I give Utah a chance, playing at home. But I haven't seen any weaknesses yet in TCU. Frogs have handled all comers with ease. I believe TCU will win -- but if Utah does win I still question whether it would be enough to jump Boise. I don't know. Not a computer expert. Full transcript

Game 2: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 6 Alabama at No. 10 LSU

• Is playing LSU on the road tougher than playing Auburn at home?

• Which team would win if they swapped coaches?

• Vote on those and other questions about Alabama at LSU!

Mike (Dallas, TX)

What do you expect in the matchup between Patrick Peterson and Julio Jones? If my memory serves, Julio didn't have any catches on Peterson last year. Will scouts be watching this one closely?

Mel Kiper

It was a different mindset of Alabama last year. They were a brutally tough defense to move the ball on. They didn't have to score a lot of points. Their defense last year was talent laden, with some studs who are playing in the NFL right now. Last year, they didn't give up over 24 points in any game last year. They held 10 opponents to 15 points or less last year. They've held six opponents this year to 13 points or less. Nick Saban is a defensive guru. He's probably one of the best defensive strategists at any level. He's tried to reload that defensive side. They have to attack a little more. Jones is coming off that career game. Peterson is a shut down corner as well as a great return man. Alabama will attack a lot more, because their defense isn't what it was from a personnel standpoint. Full transcript

Game 3: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 18 Arkansas at No. 19 South Carolina

• Which coach was a bigger flop in the NFL?

• Which quarterback would you rather have against Alabama?

• Vote on those and other questions about Arkansas at South Carolina!

Dave (Virginia)

Pat, love the column and your chats...People keep looking at the South Carolina-Florida clash on Nov 13 in the Swamp as the decider. My question to you is, doesn't Arkansas look like Carolina's worst nightmare right now with the way the Gamecocks have defended the pass lately?

Pat Forde

Dave: Thank you. By my read of the situation, South Carolina can lose to Arkansas and still control its own destiny. At 4-3, if the Gamecocks beat Florida they win the East. Full transcript

Game 4: SportsNation's burning questions for No. 21 Baylor at No. 17 Oklahoma State

• How many points will it take to win this game?

• Is Robert Griffin III more exciting than Justin Blackmon?

• Vote on those and other questions about Baylor at Oklahoma State!

James (Stillwater)

Do you see Robert Griffin III having a big day passing like Taylor Martinez did against the OSU secondary?

Big 12 blogger David Ubben

I do, but Oklahoma State's going to put big points up, too. I didn't really get why everyone thought K-State and Oklahoma State were going to play a high-scoring game. I think I picked it like 34-17 OSU. This week could get out of hand, though. Make sure that scoreboard has room for triple digits. Full transcript