NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, September 26, 12 p.m., ET, ESPN
Stadium: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Line: LSU (-24.5)
Despite having to cancel their first game due to inclement weather, LSU’s season is off to a roaring start. Their first game ended up being at Mississippi State in a rematch of last year’s stunning defeat that launched the Bulldogs to an eventual No. 1 ranking. It was the Bulldogs’ first win in Death Valley since 1991.
The Tigers were hungry for a win after last season in which they finished 8-5. While still a winning season, it was one of head coach Les Miles’ worst since taking over in 2005. They ended the season with a loss to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.
Needless to say, LSU fans were nervous about their first game of the season being at Mississippi State, especially after the disappointing end to last season. But the nerves proved to be unnecessary when the Tigers came out on top 21-19 behind the stunning play of RB Leonard Fournette.
Fournette has proven himself as the premier running back in the country after slashing through Auburn’s seemingly non-existent defense last week. He is averaging a nation-best 193.5 yards through two games. LSU won the Tiger Bowl 45-21 to a flailing Auburn team that is having some struggles at quarterback. With the win over Auburn, LSU moved to No. 8 in the polls and faces a Syracuse team that is 3-0.
But don’t let that record fool you. Syracuse plays in the ACC, an entire division more concerned with basketball than football. In 2014, they finished 3-9 in their second season with the ACC. Their only wins were against Villanova, who had a No. 12 ranking at the time, in a 27-26 double overtime battle, Central Michigan and Wake Forest.
Although the Orange are currently third in the FBS in rushing defense at 46.7 yards per game, they have padded their schedule with wins against Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan. They looked a little rough in their 30-27 double-overtime win against Central Michigan.
This season marks the Orange’s best start since going 4-0 to begin the 1991 season. However, they will likely be without quarterback Eric Dungey who suffered a head injury in a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit in the win against Central Michigan. Dungey had taken over for senior starter and captain Terrel Hunt who suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the season opener.
The Orange finished the game with backup Austin Wilson and walk-on Zack Mahoney, but Saturday’s game will prove whether or not either have enough mettle to run an entire offense. This will be the first meeting of Syracuse and LSU since 1989 when the Orange won the Hall of Fame Bowl. Their only other matchup came in 1965, a meeting that LSU won.
Despite a lack of information on Wilson and Mahoney, expect LSU’s defense to be too powerful for the inexperienced quarterbacks. Even if they manage a couple TDs, Fournette and his array of talented backups will be no match for the Orange’s basically untested rushing defense.
Prediction: LSU 48, Syracuse 14
Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
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