The LSU Tigers host Vanderbilt tonight looking to avoid the program’s first four game losing streak since 1999. Usually, when the Commodores come to town, you can chalk it up as a victory. But this is a hungry Vanderbilt team poised to have its first winning record since 2013.
This is the first time LSU has hosted Vanderbilt since 2009, and no one is expecting an easy game for the Tigers.
Here are five things to look for when these two teams meet on Saturday night in Death Valley.
Pride
Coach Brian Kelly says his team has a lot of pride.
“We haven’t played very well the last three weeks, they know that everybody knows that, everybody that watches LSU football knows that, they want to play better football and we want to coach and play better,” Kelly said.
There is no longer an outside chance of playing in the SEC Championship game or winning ten games. The biggest motivating factor is finishing out this regular season with two more wins. If the Tigers play flat, most of the players have checked out.
There was a players’ only meeting this week, let’s see if it leads to better play.
Diego Pavia
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia became a household name in college football when he willed his team to an upset win over Alabama last month. He’s got guts and plays with passion and he’s a running quarterback. Pavia leads Vanderbilt in rushing with 628 yards. And we all know LSU’s lack of success against running backs
But the last four games, Pavia has only completed 51% of his passes, so let’s see if LSU can hold down the Commodores passing game.
How is Vanderbilt winning?
Vanderbilt has six wins, because they don’t beat themselves. The Commodores have only turned it over SIX times!!! That’s tied for second fewest in the country.
They have only committed 54 penalties, tied for fewest in the SEC. And they score once they get in the red zone. They have only failed to score twice all season once in the red zone and they’ve scored 25 touchdowns on 36 trips into the red zone. Compare that to LSU who has 24 touchdowns on 40 trips into the red zone.
Health of LSU’s offensive line.
Starting offensive guards Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger are both listed as questionable on the availability report. The Tigers really need Dellinger back. They haven’t been the same since he went down with an ankle injury in the Texas A&M loss. He has been practicing this week, but Kelly said it will be a game time decision on whether he plays.
Time to get the Nuss Bus going again
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has not played well the last three weeks. In the losses to Texas A&M and Alabama it was the turnovers and against Florida he was sacked seven times. A lot of that had to do with the struggles of the interior of LSU’s offensive line. But even Kelly mentioned Nussmeier was more cognizant of taking care of the football.
Vanderbilt is susceptible to the pass, they rank 78th in the country in pass defense. Even Auburn and South Carolina had some success throwing it against them. Nussmeier should have a good game tonight.
This is a hard game to pick. I think this is a bad matchup for LSU. Vanderbilt is playing with heart, they are coming off a bye, and they have a running quarterback. I believe LSU is down emotionally.
Vanderbilt pulls off the upset and wins 24-21.
