One of the biggest roars you get from a usually raucous crowd at LSU’s Tiger Stadium is when long-time public address announcer Dan Borne declares, as part of a pre-game ritual, that “It’s Saturday night in Death Valley.”

About 100,000 strong enthusiastically vocalize their approval every time. Of course, he only can do this in evening games (he’ll leave the “night” out during day games). But the loudest reactions come when it is a night game.

That’s because the reputation of how good LSU is at night.

There’s an aura when the lights come on just off the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River at Tiger Stadium. It’s the stuff of legend. Nobody is better at night than the Tigers, especially at home.

Or, is somebody better?

Actually, there is and to LSU’s chagrin, it’s the usual suspect, the Tigers’ nemesis and hated rival.

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.

Since 2005, Alabama has the best night winning percentage in the SEC, and (LSU fans might cringe at this one) Bryant-Denny Stadium has been the toughest night venue in the conference for visitors to win in. The Crimson Tide has established night dominance as part of its overall dominance in college football.

But it’s still close. The difference between the Tigers and Tide at night is last year’s 30-16 Alabama win over LSU in Tuscaloosa. If the Tigers won that one, they would have the best night record and night home record since 2005.

LSU hosts Alabama on Nov. 5 this season, a game that will probably end up under the primetime TV lights. So maybe LSU can regain its nighttime rule.

Here’s how the numbers stack up:

SEC’s top winning percentages in night games since 2005

  • Alabama .862 (50-8)
  • LSU .855 (77-13)
  • Georgia .762 (32-10)
  • Florida .679 (36-17)
  • Auburn .667 (40-20)
  • Texas A&M .667 (48-24)

SEC’s top winning percentages in night home games since 2005

  • Alabama .903 (28-3)
  • LSU .889 (48-6)
  • Auburn .771 (27-8)
  • Georgia .750 (12-4)
  • Texas A&M .750 (27-9)

And here are the numbers for each team across the SEC:

Alabama Crimson Tide (50-8 at night, .862)

  • Home: 28-3
  • Away: 12-2
  • Neutral: 10-3
  • Overall: 121-27 (.799 in day games)

Arkansas Razorbacks (35-20 at night, .636)

  • Home: 28-11
  • Away: 5-7
  • Neutral: 2-2
  • Overall: 78-61 (.512 in day games)

Auburn Tigers (40-20 at night, .667)

  • Home: 27-8
  • Away: 10-11
  • Neutral: 3-2
  • Overall: 94-48 (.658 in day games)

Florida Gators (36-17 at night, .679)

  • Home: 21-9
  • Away: 11-7
  • Neutral: 4-1
  • Overall: 104-40 (.747 in day games)

Georgia Bulldogs (32-10 at night, .762)

  • Home: 12-4
  • Away: 16-4
  • Neutral: 4-2
  • Overall: 104-41 (.699 in day games)

Kentucky Wildcats (30-35 at night, .462)

  • Home: 25-18
  • Away: 5-16
  • Neutral: 1-1
  • Overall: 58-76 (.406 in day games)

LSU Tigers (77-13 at night, .855)

  • Home: 48-6
  • Away: 19-5
  • Neutral: 10-2
  • Overall: 112-32 (.648 in day games)

Mississippi Rebels (27-27 at night, .500)

  • Home: 18-13
  • Away: 6-14
  • Neutral: 3-0
  • Overall: 68-69 (.494 in day games)

Mississippi State Bulldogs (39-29 at night, .574)

  • Home: 24-16
  • Away: 14-12
  • Neutral: 1-1
  • Overall: 73-64 (.493 in day games)

Missouri Tigers (36-21 at night, .632)

  • Home: 22-8
  • Away: 9-10
  • Neutral: 5-3
  • Overall: 96-48 (.690 in day games)

South Carolina Gamecocks (41-30 at night, .577)

  • Home: 30-11
  • Away: 10-18
  • Neutral: 1-1
  • Overall: 87-54 (.657 in day games)

Tennessee Volunteers (31-27 at night, .534)

  • Home: 19-15
  • Away: 11-10
  • Neutral: 1-2
  • Overall: 73-65 (.525 in day games)

Texas A&M Aggies (48-24 at night, .667)

  • Home: 27-9
  • Away: 14-12
  • Neutral: 7-2
  • Overall: 83-57 (.515 in day games)

Vanderbilt Commodores (27-39 at night, .409)

  • Home: 19-21
  • Away: 8-18
  • Neutral: N/A
  • Overall: 56-79 (.420 in day games)