You’ve heard about the Good Bo/Bad Bo dilemma facing the LSU defense this week.

That’s Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace, once notorious for making coaches sing his praises one game, pull their hair out the next.

LSU would have loved to have met this Bad Bo fellow. Even at his schizophrenic worst, Wallace has been nothing but Good Bo the last two years against LSU.

This year, too, it has been almost all Good Bo.

So having put the inconsistency behind him, figure on Good Bo Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

The real question is LSU’s defense.

Good Tigers or Bad Tigers?

LSU is one of four teams in the nation that has held three teams without a touchdown this season.

That’s good.

The Tigers also have given up the two highest single-game offensive totals in Les Miles’ 10 years in Tigertown.

That’s not so good.

They have, encouragingly, been steadily better in their last two SEC games, holding Florida to 305 yards while forcing three turnovers, then holding Kentucky to 217 yards and no touchdowns.

“We recognize that we have a talented team,” Miles said. “We all kind of suspected that. Now we’re looking forward to playing best against some of our best opponents.”

There was a step down in offensive firepower to deal with the last two games, perhaps, but it still appears the Tigers’ defense has come a long way since giving up 566 yards to Auburn and 570 to Mississippi State.

At least Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has noticed.

“They’re changing some things around that you haven’t seen them do a lot of before,” Freeze said. “They’ve become very multiple the last two weeks, particularly last week.

“They’re doing more odd fronts. They’re giving you different looks in the (secondary), which you didn’t get all of that in the past. They still can line up and just beat you. They’re making it even more difficult now by moving around.”

The improvement has been most noticeable up front, where the 24th-ranked Tigers (6-2, 2-2) don’t have the depth or the experience in the front seven they’ve enjoyed with some past defenses.

But defensive coordinator John Chavis has adjusted.

Particularly in passing situations, he’s been prone to move Sione Tuehema into the middle of an odd-man front, even though the true freshman is really a defensive end and a bit undersized for that spot at 6-foot-4, 232 pounds.

Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter have been fine at end and gradually seems to be getting some help at the tackles when they stick with the even-man fronts.

Sophomore Christian LaCouture and freshman Davon Godchaux are the starters, but they’re getting more breaks with Quentin Thomas playing more and more while recovering from a biceps injury along with Maquedius Bain.

“I think the pass rush is coming,” Miles said. “They’re part of that team that’s improving. I think … our defensive line understands getting up the field a little bit better.”

Kwon Alexander had been a tackling machine all year at the weakside linebacker, but that group has gotten stronger as Kendell Beckwith has gotten better each game since taking over the starting job in the middle after the Auburn embarrassment.

“I think Kendell is playing more confidently and comfortably there,” Miles said. “He has great speed to the ball so when he gets there it’s a big man on a tackle, so I think he’s making a difference, certainly.

In the secondary, true freshman Jamal Adams is listed as a backup safety but never seems to come off the field and, at times, seems to be doing a pretty good Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu imitation.

Against Kentucky Adams had tackles, including a sack and another for a loss, not to mention the devastating block that sprung Tre’Davious White for a punt return touchdown.

“He’s a guy that just (makes you say), ‘Who is No. 33?’ Simply put, he is making plays wherever you line him up at and that’s a great characteristic.”

But it will be much tougher against a balanced Ole Miss offense in a game that LSU figures to need to be low scoring since the third-ranked Rebels (7-0, 4-0) lead the nation in scoring defense.

“We think that we’re in a better position now to play defense, you know, against anybody,” Miles said. “So we’re lighting it up against one of the premiere teams in our conference in Ole Miss. It will be certainly a challenge for us, but one which we will look forward to that matchup.”(Rick Hickman/American Press)