LSU and Oklahoma square off for just the third time in both
of their storied histories, and the first time since meeting in the 2004 BCS
National Championship. A game where the Tigers came away with a 21-14 victory
over the Sooners in New Orleans. The LSU-OU series is currently tied at 1-1
with the Tigers looking to improve on that this Saturday in Atlanta.
Oklahoma is led by senior transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts,
who is no stranger to the Tigers defense. Before transferring this summer, the signal
caller was in Tuscaloosa with the Tide under Nick Saban. Backing up current Bama
quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts, is not only the leader passer for his team
(3,634 yards), but is also the leader rusher (1,255 yards). LSU knows about
that athletic ability too well, when in 2016, the only touchdown the Tigers “surrendered”
to the Tide came on a controversial run by Hurts of 21 yards early in the
fourth quarter, the Tigers would eventually lose the game 10-0. “Jalen Hurts is
like a running back, back there.” said defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence about
Hurts. “We got to stop the run. That’s any game, but really important to this
game. Because you let Jalen Hurts loose back there, and you’ve got a long game.
So you got to keep it simple.” This will be the third start against the Tigers
for Hurts.
Hurts is aided in the passing game by junior CeeDee Lamb, a Biletnikoff
Award finalist, and talented receiver that has big play ability to break a game
wide open at any moment. The speedy receiver averages nearly 21 yards per catch
and has 14 touchdowns on the season. Watch for Lamb to be matched up against LSU
All-American freshman corner Derek Stingley Jr. Stingley led the SEC in interceptions
this year with six, more on that in a bit.
This Oklahoma offense, just like every other Sooners offense
of the Lincoln Riley era, has looked explosive and seems to find ways to put
points on the board when needed. But it is also the same team that needed an
overtime to beat Baylor in the Big 12 title game, and a loss by Utah in the
Pac-12 championship. When the chips fell though, they are back in the playoffs
for the fourth time in six years of the playoff system.
Oklahoma’s defense has become sneakily better than last
seasons. Going from the 114th ranked in 2018 to the 25th
overall this season. However, when we breakdown a major factor in the defense
for the Sooners it is scoring defense. Oklahoma is giving up 24.5 points a game
coming into this contest against the Tigers. That does not bode well for the
Sooners, as the last opponent LSU faced, UGA, was giving up less than half that
at 10.4 points a game. On top of that, it has been confirmed that defensive end
Ronnie Perkins will be out for the game. The sophomore leads the Sooners with
six sacks and is second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss. Also out for
the game is safety Delarrin Turner-Yell due to an apparent broken collar bone.
The Tigers are not looking at those missing individuals as
advantages though. They know all about the “next man up” mentality. “We don’t
even factor that in, you know, say hey, this is going to be an advantage.” stated
Orgeron “It’s not going to be an advantage, uh-uh. We’re going, and again, it’s
never about our opponent. It’s always about us and the way we execute.”
On offense for LSU:
Senior quarterback Joe Burrow: Heisman Trophy winner; Walter
Camp Award winner; Maxwell Award winner; Davey O’Brien Award winner; Johnny
Unitas Golden Arm Award winner; AP POTY, SEC POTY, First Team All- American, and
First Team All-SEC.
Sophomore wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase: Biletnikoff Award
winner, First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC
Jr. C Lloyd Cushenberry, 1st Team All-SEC, Sr. G Damien
Lewis, 2nd Team All-SEC, Sr. G Adrian Magee, 2nd Team
All-SEC, Jr. T Saahdiq Charles, Jr. T Austin Deculus: Joe Moore Award winners
(best OL unit)
Junior running back
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Charles McClendon Award winner (LSU MVP), Paul Hornung
finalist, Doak Walker semifinalist, 1st Team All-SEC RB, 2nd
Team All-SEC Returner
Passing game coordinator Joe Brady: Broyles Award winner
(top assistant in college football) Coach Brady also stated that “Steve
Ensminger deserves half of this award”
Although junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is listed
as day-to-day, due to non-contact injury sustained in practice. Offensive
coordinator Steve Ensminger said Tuesday morning “I do believe we will have
Clyde” and clarified that with “that’s just my opinion.” Edwards-Helaire has
been a versatile player in the Tigers offense, and matchup nightmare to scheme
against. As of this writing, Edwards-Helaire was still being held out of
practice on Tuesday afternoon for precautionary measures.
Defensively the Tigers have one of the best secondary groups
in the country. Boasting the Jim Thorpe Award winner in Grant Delpit for best
defensive back in college football. All-American freshman Derek Stingley Jr.,
who led the SEC in interceptions with six, and ranks him fifth nationally. The
Tigers also rank No. 1 in interceptions in the SEC with 16 on the season. That
number puts them at 6th respectively when ranked in the nation.
While Derek Stingley will most likely be matched up one on
one with CeeDee Lamb, the defensive line and outside linebackers for the Tigers
will be tasked with defending the legs off quarterback of Jalen Hurts. “Obviously,
with this team, you’ve got to tackle,” Tigers Head Coach Ed Orgeron said during
a Monday press conference. “You’ve got to tackle one-on-one and in space. You’ve
got to tackle Jalen. You’ve got to cover CeeDee, and if you do cover them, you’ve
got to tackle them. So, it’s going to come down to winning your one-on-ones as
a tackler.”
Expect both quarterbacks to make plays with their legs in
this game. However, with the suspension of their biggest pass rush threat and
the injury to the leading tackler in the defensive backfield. I don’t see the
Sooners holding up very long past halftime. The line on this game has already
moved from 8 originally to 11 earlier this week to now 13, most likely from
Tiger fans betting heavily on LSU.
LSU 43 – OU 30