LSU has to go on the road to take on Texas this weekend, but the Tigers have more than enough firepower to take out the Longhorns.
College football’s opening weekend had some intriguing matchups, but it’s nothing compared to the schedule of big-time clashes in Week 2. LSU’s trip to Texas might end up being the game of the weekend.
Longhorn fans want to believe their program is headed back to national prominence, but they’re going to endure a harsh lesson from the SEC on Saturday evening. Ed Orgeron’s team is going to walk into Austin and get a big win against Tom Herman and company. Read on to discover the top three reasons why the Tigers will get it done.
1. Joe Burrow’s maturity
Burrow doesn’t have the natural talent that Sam Ehlinger is blessed with on the other side of this match-up, but he is the more mature of the two signal-callers. That’s going to really help LSU’s offense thrive in what should be an electric atmosphere.
It’s not as if Burrow can’t make a big play when called upon. He was sensational in the opener, completing 23-of-27 of his passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns. Calling him a game manager is a disservice to the veteran quarterback. He won’t carry the LSU offense in this one, but he’ll make the cool plays necessary to salt this game away down the stretch.
Note, that cool play can come via the air or the ground. Burrow isn’t an electric athlete, but he’s got a real knack for scrambling his way to a big first down when his team needs it the most. The Texas defense won’t come into the game fearing his running ability, but they may leave the field knowing it cost them the chance to win.
2. The pressure is all on Texas
Herman and his coaching staff have spent all offseason trying to tone down the expectations for this team. To put it bluntly, they’ve failed. Longhorn fans are desperate to see this team become a legitimate national title contender in 2019. If that’s going to happen, Texas has to defeat LSU at home.
The Tigers, on the other hand, are feeling no such pressure. Their fan base would love to see them score a big-time win at Texas, but a loss to the Longhorns doesn’t eliminate LSU from the College Football Playoff picture. They can get back into the mix by winning the SEC even if it’s with one additional regular season loss.
Look for Texas to come out of the gate playing with a ton of emotion. That might pilot them to an early lead, but it could also lead them to a disastrous start. Orgeron’s team will come out fired up as well, but they will understand this game is more of a marathon than a sprint. Playing free is going to give LSU a huge advantage. Look for them to turn that advantage into a big victory on the road.
3. LSU’s secondary is the real DBU and can create turnovers
In a game of this magnitude, winning the turnover battle is often the difference between victory and defeat. The talent LSU features in their star-studded secondary give them a great chance to force Ehlinger into errant throws that can easily turn the tide in this game.
Grant Delpit is the biggest star of the group. He’s an absolute nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators due to his versatile play from the strong safety spot. He can make plays in the box and in the deep third of the field. Expect Orgeron and his coaching staff to line him up in a lot of different spots on Saturday night in an effort to keep Ehlinger and the Texas offense guessing.
Delpit isn’t the only guy with All-SEC potential in the LSU secondary either. Kristian Fulton is another player who is capable of turning this game around with a big interception. Ehlinger would be well-advised to avoid throwing at the senior cornerback whenever possible. Challenging him would be a great way for Texas to lose this game before it ever really gets going.
Conclusion
This still projects to be a really good college football game on Saturday night. Despite LSU’s obvious advantages, Texas still has the talent to keep this one close for four quarters. The Longhorns are truly desperate for a program elevating win, but it won’t come at the hands of LSU this weekend.