BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -After winning their first three games by at least 40 points, LSU coach Les Miles expects a much tougher test from South Carolina

``When I watched their film from last year and then this year, they look like a better defense,'' Miles said of the Gamecocks, who are also 3-0. ``They will play a variety of stunts and packages. They will be a great challenge to our defense.''

The 12th-ranked Gamecocks are second to LSU in the SEC in scoring defense as their opponents are averaging just 9.7 points. South Carolina is second in pass defense as it is allowing 114.7 yards through the air.

The Gamecocks are just fifth in the SEC in overall defense because they are giving up 192 yards on the ground. Still it was defense which carried South Carolina to its 16-12 victory at Georgia.

``I haven't seen a lot of the Eastern Division teams,'' Miles said. ``This will be the first time I get a close view at South Carolina. They played a very talented Georgia team on the road.

``They made few mistakes, played strong defense and scored enough to win. They certainly got my attention with their improvement. Coach Spurrier has done a tremendous job with that program.''

Miles said he was pleased that his second-ranked team showed no signs of a letdown in its 44-0 victory against Middle Tennessee last weekend.

``If you look back on college football and see the games that are being played, it appears that our football team is taking notice,'' Miles said. ``You have to play with intensity and with a sharp focus.

``You must handle the game plan and be ready to play. Otherwise, you will be in trouble. I enjoyed the way our team played Saturday night.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.