LSU suffered a devastating loss to Wisconsin on Saturday, 16-14. The Tigers couldn’t get anything going on offense, as star running back Leonard Fournette was held to 138 yards on 28 carries. Quarterback Brandon Harris was very ineffective as well, throwing for only 131 yards on 12-21 passing with two interceptions. He threw a game-winning interception to Wisconsin with less than a minute remaining in the game when the Tigers were on a potential winning drive.
Looking to Regroup: LSU Tigers vs Jacksonville State
As the Tigers move forward, they welcome the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to Baton Rouge on Saturday. LSU is heavily favored in the game, with the Tigers having a 99% chance to win the match-up. This will be a game for the stars to once again prove their worth to the Tiger faithful in the Bayou.
Preview of the Match-up:
LSU vs Jacksonville State
Tiger Stadium
Baton Rouge, LA
6:30 CST
LSU Impact Players
Leonard Fournette- One of the best backs in the country, Fournette should have an easy time running through the Gamecocks defense. Look for him to have at least 150 yards with no less than three touchdowns.
Travin Dural- The top receiver for the Tigers, Dural has the ability to get in the open field and stride down the field and reach the end zone without any defensive players in his sight. Expect Dural to be a threat for the Jacksonville State defense in this match-up. Also, he is one of Brandon Harris’s favorite targets on deep throws.
Brandon Harris- Alright, Harris didn’t show any signs of improvement in last week’s match-up against Wisconsin. Give credit to the Badgers’ defense, they contained Harris the way any team should lock down a quarterback from making those effective throws. Aside from the horrible performance last week, I expect Harris to be more effective with his passes in this match-up.
Jacksonville State Impact Players
Roc Thomas- The transfer from Auburn, Thomas is a versatile running back with explosive ability. He played against LSU in his time at Auburn, and showed to be effective against a great Tigers defense.
Eli Jenkins- The Gamecocks starting quarterback is very effective throwing and running the ball. Jenkins almost led JSU to the upset over Auburn last season. He also led the Gamecocks to the FCS playoffs last season, and has his team in a great situation being ranked 5th in the FCS polls.
Cade Stinnett- The JSU kicker has the power to hit from nearly 50 yards. In their first game, Stinnett connected from 47 yards. If he is called upon, expect him to keep the Gamecocks within distance of LSU for some of the game.
When LSU has the ball:
Any time LSU has the ball, the Tigers offense is driving down the field. Led by Fournette and Harris, the team is almost always within scoring distance of the end zone. Look for Fournette to get multiple carries in the red zone, and Harris to throw short passes to set up the runs for #7 near the goal line.
When Jacksonville State has the ball:
The Gamecocks have an effective offense that can force defenses to stay on the field longer than anticipated. Eli Jenkins, their quarterback, can hurt a defense with his arms and his legs. Running back Roc Thomas will lead the way in the backfield for JSU. They have the ability to stay close with LSU if Jenkins and Thomas will strategize the right way.
Expectations for the match-up:
In this match-up, expect Fournette and the Tigers to come out strong and take the early lead and not look back. Unless any major injuries occur, LSU should run away with this game. Although Jacksonville State is a quality team, I don’t see them being able to leave Baton Rouge with an upset victory.
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