LSU Tigers running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the difference in the 2019 Tiger Bowl, as the Bayou Bengals stay perfect and defeat the Auburn Tigers.
In the biggest game of the weekend, the No. 2 LSU Tigers remain undefeated by handing their SEC West division rival in the No. 9 Auburn Tigers their second defeat of the college football season. While LSU quarterback Joe Burrow remains in the driver’s seat for the Heisman Trophy, Saturday was a coming-out party for LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He was simply outstanding.
Edwards-Helaire was the bell-cow Burrow and the LSU offense needed on this rainy Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge. Throwing the ball wasn’t mitigated by the rainfall entirely, but whatever team got the better performance out of the running back position was probably going to end up winning this close rivalry game. That was LSU this weekend.
Edwards-Helaire had 26 carries for 136 yards and a rushing touchdown, as well as seven catches out of the backfield for an additional 51 yards. In total, he had 33 touches for 187 yards and a trip to pay dirt in LSU’s eighth win on the year. The Tigers are perfect heading into their biggest game of the season in two weeks vs. the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.
What Saturday in Death Valley proved was this potential LSU team of destiny is not just about Burrow. He’s got great weapons all over the gridiron, for his wonderful wide receivers to his brilliant bell-cow back in Edwards-Helaire. Of course, LSU is still DBU with the likes of Grant Delpit and Derek Stingley Jr. asserting their dominance in the secondary.
Burrow still played well, great in fact, as he completed 32 of 42 passes for 321 yards, a touchdown and a pick, as well as 13 carries for 31 yards a touchdown. That said, Burrow now knows he doesn’t have to do everything on offense for the Bayou Bengals to beat a top-10 team in the land. He’s got Edwards-Helaire to hand the ball of to if he feels so inclined.
Overall, LSU has the look of a serious national title contender through nine weeks. The Tigers have every reason to believe this year will be the year they finally beat the hated Crimson Tide to get to Atlanta and play for a trip to the College Football Playoff. With an offense that can match a great defense, nobody will want to play LSU from November on this year. They’re ready, are you?
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