.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Thriving in unfriendly environments has become second nature to LSU.
Playing three of their first four games away from home, the Tigers (4-0) have double-digit wins every time, including over three ranked teams.
The noise and attempts by enemy crowds to distract LSU simply don't work. The Tigers' opportunistic defense and consistent offense have neutralized opponents' home advantages.
''We go on the road and you get a team's best effort,'' LSU coach Les Miles said. ''We have a real strong road personality. I think there's some real confidence for this football team that no matter what the environment is, you know, we can play.''
LSU made good on its farthest trip toward the northeast since playing at Boston College in 1947, winning at West Virginia 47-21 on Saturday night.
Most of the sellout crowd of 62,056 at Mountaineer Field waved gold ''rally rags.'' But that did nothing to throttle the Tigers, just like the throng of cowbells at Mississippi State the week before failed to make a dent in LSU's resolve.
The Tigers also toppled Oregon in a neutral-site game in Dallas to open the season.
''We start on the road in Dallas, Starkville, and then this,'' Miles said. ''By this time we know what it means to go on the road. We understand the routine. We understand how to play. We're pleased by the fact that the opponents make noise. I'm going to tell you something, when the crowd got jacked and we came onto the field, I knew we were going to play. It was like a football party and they invited us.
''I knew our guys would show up.''
LSU has won its first four games for the fifth straight season. The Tigers won their first seven last year before losing to eventual national champion Auburn.
Now LSU gets to spend most of October in Death Valley for the start of the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule.
The Tigers open conference play at home against Kentucky (2-2) and Florida (4-0). The next road game is Oct. 15 at Tennessee (2-1), followed by a home game with Auburn (3-1).
LSU's defense forced four turnovers against West Virginia, converting two of them into scores, but couldn't stop quarterback Geno Smith, who set three school records by completing 38 of 65 passes for 463 yards. But LSU held an opponent under 100 yards rushing for the fourth straight game.
''We weren't perfect,'' Miles said. ''We missed a field goal and we missed an extra point. We had a touchdown pass pass through our hands. Didn't make any difference. We overcame that adversity. Somebody else would make a play that's a mark of a quality team.''
LSU has scored 49 points twice this season. When the Tigers won the national championship in 2007, they scored 44 or more points five times.
Jarrett Lee is consistently showing poise in the pocket. He matched a career high with three touchdown passes against West Virginia and finished 16 of 28 for 180 yards.
''Jarrett Lee played a good game,'' West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin said. ''He managed the game well and he got their guys calm when we started to make a little run. He kept them together as a good quarterback does.''
Freshman Odell Beckham caught two passes for 82 yards, including a 52-yard TD catch that was LSU's longest offensive play of the season. Rueben Randle's six catches tied a career high.
''Both receivers are doing a great job making those safeties bite,'' Lee said. ''We've just got to put the ball in their hands. We have enough guys on the field that if one of them is double covered we can go to the other one.''
