Welcome everyone to the latest edition of the LSU preview where I break down each game on the schedule! This week, it’s the Tigers against Texas A&M.
Last Week: The last time LSU took the field it was in a tough loss to Florida behind inefficient offensive play in the redzone. Texas A&M had a relatively easy week hosting UTSA and taking down the Roadrunners 23-10.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams faced off, the LSU Tigers took down Texas A&M 19-7. The Tigers have won the last five meetings between the two and hold the series lead 31-20-3.
What to Watch For:
Can the Offense Get Over the Hump? LSU’s offense up until last week under Coach O has looked very good. It had some spice added into a fairly vanilla playbook and it led to going 5-2 under Orgeron. Last week on the other hand saw an offense so inefficient, it looked like Les Miles was texting the calls in. But the most heinous part of LSU’s play against Florida was its inefficiency in the redzone. Heading into this game, the Tigers got points from within 20 yards of the endzone 80 percent of the time. However, when they went up against Florida, they went 2-for-5 and 10 points. This team needs to get over the proverbial hump on Thursday if they expect to come away with a win on Thanksgiving.
Defense Needs to Step Up Without Beckwith: LSU will be without one their better players this week in Kendall Beckwith and they need him in a big way. In the loss to Florida the run game went wild with over 100 yards allowed on 26 carries while he was out after suffering an injury in the first half. Players like Dwayne Thomas showed up in his absence but it still underperformed, especially in the run game. Dave Aranda needs to spend some extra time in the lab coming up with what he will need to do in order to stop the Aggies without Beckwith on the field.
Shut Down Backup QB: Florida’s backup quarterback Austin Appleby had a good performance last week against a stout LSU defense highlighted by a 98-yard touchdown pass. LSU will get a chance to redeem itself as the Aggies also have a backup that doesn’t seem to have a lot of fire. His one game was against a good UTSA team, but at the same time they aren’t LSU. Once they shut down the passing game, the rest will follow.
LSU Will Win If:
The LSU Tigers will win if they can capitalize on redzone opportunities. After Saturday, that statement bears repeating.
Texas A&M Will Win If:
Texas A&M can pull off the upset if they can take advantage of the defense being without Beckwith.
-Clint Domingue