We’re that much closer to college football being back in our lives and this Sunday night, the LSU Tigers will open up the season under the bright lights of AT&T Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes! This is a ballgame that will really set the tone for both programs and is going to be a game that many fans will zero in on.
Last Time Out:
The last time that the Tigers took the field was in a disappointing 21-17 loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl. Things were very much the same for the Hurricanes as they lost to the Wisconsin Badgers 34-24 in the Orange Bowl.
Last Meeting:
The last time these two squads faced off was all the way back in 2005 when the Tigers beat the Hurricanes 40-3 at the Peach Bowl. LSU leads the series 9-3 and hasn’t lost to Miami since 1988. Fun fact about that matchup: current head coach Ed Orgeron was working for the Hurricanes program as a grad assistant.
Storylines to Watch:
Burrow’s Time to Shine
After everything that’s happened this offseason, Joe Burrow will get the start for the Tigers at the quarterback position. It’s no surprise that the transfer from Ohio State is the starter, but he’ll have to prove it throughout the ballgame to stay on the field.
Orgeron has mentioned in the past that he has no problem playing either quarterback and if Burrow wants to keep that role, he’ll need to have a solid game against Miami if he wants to play the entire four quarters. You look at the Hurricanes defensive numbers from last season and that might be an easy task as they allowed an average of 217 yards per game through the air. If Burrow can reach that mark, the starting gig will be his the rest of the way.
Battle of Inside Linebackers
Both teams have a big strength and that’s their defense and there’s going to be a fun battle to keep an eye on and that’s which inside linebacker will look better. Of course, LSU has their defensive beast in Devin White. Even Mark Richt has acknowledged that he is the heart and soul of this defense and the Hurricanes will have to contain him.
Meanwhile, Miami has a solid player in Shaq Quarterman that will be a key part of Manny Diaz’ defense. Last year, he racked up 83 total tackles, seven of which were for a loss. While there are some other key positions on defense, this will be a fun little battle between two top-flight inside linebackers.
Offensive Line Woes
All throughout fall camp there has been talk about the offensive line having some struggles. With everything that’s happened in terms of quarterback depth, the key is to keep him upright. If Miami’s front seven can bring the pressure, a lot of things can start to happen for the Hurricanes.
LSU Will Win If:
If the Tigers can win the turnover battle on Sunday night, the Tigers 2018 season will be off to a strong start with a win over Miami. Manny Diaz will have the turnover chain out, but the Tigers need to keep that chain off the defensive players wearing orange.
Miami Will Win If:
The Hurricanes can really stake a claim of being a top-five ranked team if they can bring pressure to Joe Burrow. This offensive line, as mentioned earlier will need to keep him upright and keep things under control.
-Clint Domingue