Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
The LSU Tigers are one of the top teams in the SEC this season and starting the 2013 campaign 2-0 is a good start to a possible national title run. Facing yet another relatively easy test in week three should be a nice tune-up for what should be a brutal conference season.
On the other side of the field, the Kent State Golden Flashes are a pretty mediocre MAC team since losing head coach Darrell Hazell this season. The Golden Flashes enter this contest with a 1-1 record and coming off a blowout loss to Bowling Green, 41-22. This game could get ugly.
LSU’s offense has been much better in 2013 than many people could have possibly expected. The offense was seemingly nowhere to be found last season, but with quarterback Zach Mettenberger playing the best he has played in his career, the Tigers are in good hands. Mettenberger has 533 passing yards and six touchdowns this season while leading an offense that averages 46.5 points per game. Wide out Odell Beckham has also been solid with 254 receiving yards and three scores on 10 catches.
Kent State’s offense has not been as lucky. Starting freshman Colin Reardon at quarterback has been a risky choice, but he has played well, passing for 358 yards and four touchdowns in the first two contests. However, the rest of the offense has been pretty pedestrian as it averages just under 20 points per game.
Defensively, Kent State faltered when playing their first FBS opponent this season, allowing 41 points and over 500 yards of total offense. LSU has one of the best defenses in the nation. They have yet to allow more than 300 yards in either game this season as well as keeping TCU to 27 points and just over 250 yards in week one.
Kent State will travel to LSU to take on the Tigers at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 14. The game will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
PREDICTION: Kent State 0, LSU 38
Related: LSU Preview
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Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
