FSU Preview: Florida State versus Louisiana State

The ‘Noles will be in New Orleans to battle the LSU Tigers on Sunday. The game will be on ABC at 7:30 PM from the Superdome. Florida State is 7-2 against the Bayou Bengals with the last meeting coming in 1991. FSU won 27-16 in Baton Rouge.

This is LSU’s first game of the season and their first under new head coach Brian Kelly. Kelly was 3-2 opposing the Seminoles while at Notre Dame.

Observations from the last game

FSU played one of the cleanest games in recent memory with only two penalties on the first team.

The offensive line was dominant even being without a couple pieces. The line averaged almost four yards before first contact on run plays. This helped 3 running backs (Treshaun Ward, Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili) go over 100 yards each.

FSU wasn’t able to generate much of a pass rush and managed to only get one sack. But the Duquesne offense threw the ball very quickly on almost every drop back so it was hard to get a gauge on the pass rush through one game.

Florida State offense versus LSU defense

The biggest key on this side of the ball is staying out of obvious passing situations. The LSU veteran secondary and excellent pass rushers Ali Gaye, BJ Ojulari and Jaquelin Ray can make conversions difficult to come by.

The starting defensive line has produced 23 sacks in their careers at LSU. But scouts say that each player is a little suspect versus the run. Hopefully FSU take advantage of their run game prowess and keep themselves in short yardage situations.

If the Seminoles can wear down the front line, they might be able to make a comeback or extend the lead in the fourth quarter with Travis and the three headed monster of Ward, Benson and Toafili. The backs also have the capability of making big plays through the air against the linebackers.

Florida State defense versus LSU offense

LSU coach Brian Kelly is being coy about who will be the starting quarterback this weekend. All signs point to Jayden Daniels, the transfer from Arizona State, getting the nod.

Preseason All American receiver Kayshon Boutte (14 TDs in career 16 games) is the best player on the offense and is the biggest matchup problem for the Seminoles. LSU will most likely try to establish the passing game first to give running back Noah Cain room to operate. It will up to FSU’s defensive tackles, Robert Cooper and Fabien Lovett, and linebackers, Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach, to lock up the run to help Omarion Cooper (if healthy) and Renardo Green slow the Tigers receivers.

LSU will be breaking in a true freshman left tackle Will Campbell, who is very talented but may make a couple mistakes allowing Jared Verse, Dennis Briggs or Derrick McClendon to disrupt the Tiger offense.

Special Teams

Advantage: Florida State

Prediction

The ‘Noles prevail in an instant classic 37 to 34.