Welcome everyone to another LSU preview! This week, we look into the matchup between LSU and Mississippi State.
Last Week: Both teams had a bounce back after bad losses to start the year with LSU taking down Jacksonville State 34-13 after a change at quarterback saw Danny Etling take the field for the first time in Death Valley. Mississippi State got a win after being upset by South Alabama week one with a 27-14 win over South Carolina.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met LSU narrowly avoided being defeated by the score of 21-19. But the series between these two SEC foes has been largely one-sided with the Tigers having a record of 72-34-3 all-time.
What to Watch For:
LSU’s Quarterback Conundrum Continues: The Tigers are in the middle of an interesting situation as they enter week three and their first conference game, and it is very similar to what happened to LSU back in 2014. You’ve got an underperforming quarterback that is starting for you and you pull him out in favor of the next man in the depth chart. Two years ago, it was Anthony Jennings being switched out for then-freshman QB Brandon Harris. Now, it’s Brandon Harris being switched out for Purdue transfer Danny Etling. He had a somewhat decent performance in the second quarter, but outside of that it was largely an underwhelming debut against an FCS opponent that saw him complete only six of his 14 passes on the night for 100 yards and a touchdown. Both QBs haven’t performed up to snuff and if the Tigers want to get on the right track early on this season, the time is now. Les Miles says that he will start Etling, but the biggest question is “How long will he be in there?” The smart thing to do would keep him as long as you can and that might be what happens because you don’t really know what to expect out of Mississippi State’s defense who has allowed over 600 yards through two games.
Dual-Threat QB to Watch: The Bulldogs are coming off an era with Dak Prescott under center that saw them reach new heights, ascending to the top of the AP rankings for the first time in 2014. The Fitzgerald era started off on a rocky road, but it looks like Nick Fitzgerald has turned things around if his last performance can say anything with 195 yards on the ground and having 178 yards and two scores in the air. You’re only as good as your last game and he looked really good. Expect more of the same from him if this defense can’t contain him.
How Will LF7 Look? The second-biggest storyline will have to be how Leonard Fournette will look after being out for last week’s game with an ankle injury. If the injury is still bothersome to the star running back, the pitch count for Fournette should be kept around 15 carries at the most. Derrius Guice will still get the lion’s share and earn a lot of yardage throughout this matchup.
LSU Will Win If:
The Bayou Bengals can get to 2-1 on the year if they can keep it close at the half. The Bulldogs have looked poor so far in the second half, allowing teams to come back and win through two weeks of college football. If the Tigers can do what they need to do in the first half to make it competitive, they have a puncher’s chance of winning.
Mississippi State Will Win If:
The Bulldogs will be able to get the upset against LSU if they shut down Etling. Last week, they got at the quarterback for a sack four times and hit him six times. The defense will need to bring the pressure and break through the offensive line if they want to win. Also, they need to have Fitzgerald to continue to perform at the level he has as of late.
-Clint Domingue