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The LSU Tigers visit Morgantown, WV to play the West Virginia Mountaineers in week 4 of the college football season. The strength of the Tigers is defense and the strength of the 'eers is offense, and this will decide the football game.


LSU has already been challenged twice this season, once by the Oregon Ducks in Dallas, TX and another time in Starkville, MS by the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and both games their defense dominated. The flash and dash Ducks offense was made to look pedestrian, and the power run game of the Bulldogs found itself on the receiving end of the game's punishment. Their defense is really that special. Their front seven wreck havoc on the offensive lines they've faced this year, and their back four can man-up and tackle in space as good as any secondary in the nation. The LSU defense is complimented by its tough nose, run the ball offense that does not make mistakes. Jarrett Lee was once a laughing stock in the SEC as indicated by the nickname "Pick 6" for all the interceptions he threw returned for touchdowns. Today, however, he has been playing smart and managing the game as well as any quarterback. 


WVU has also been challenged this season when they faced the Maryland Terrapins. The Terps were coming off a big win against the Miami Hurricanes, but were unable to complete a comeback and were defeated by the Mountaineers 37-31. WVU is led by junior quarterback Geno Smith. This season, Smith has completed 82 passes in 118 attempts for 1,008 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. The WVU passing game is its team strength, however, its running game is below average. This presents a potential problem for the 'eers against LSU because they will need to mix it up. Another problem I have seen is they have yet to play a full game this season. In one game they start off slow, in another they slip in the second half. They will need to play good, sound football for four quarters to beat LSU.

Stat Comparison of Both Teams
  • Rushing Offense - ranked 107; 78.67 rushing yards per game
  • Passing Offense - ranked 7; 356.00 passing yards per game
  • Total Offense - ranked 34; 434.67 total yards per game
  • Scoring Offense - ranked 15; 42.00 points per game
  • Rushing Defense - ranked 45; 116.00 rushing yards given up per game
  • Pass Defense - ranked 53; 200.33 passing yards given up per game
  • Total Defense - ranked 40; 316.33 total yards given up per game
  • Scoring Defense - ranked 40; 18.67 points given up per game 
  • Rushing Offense - ranked 58; 166.00 rushing yards per game
  • Passing Offense - ranked 93; 178.67 passing yards per game
  • Total Offense - ranked 85; 344.67 total yards per game
  • Scoring Offense - ranked 35; 36.00 points per game
  • Rushing Defense - ranked 3; 47.67 rushing yards given up per game
  • Pass Defense - ranked 19; 160.00 passing yards given up per game
  • Total Defense - ranked 7; 207.67 total yards given up per game
  • Scoring Defense - ranked 15; 12.00 points given up per game
The line of the game is currently LSU by six points, exactly what they beat WVU by last year. TV analysts seem to believe LSU is a sure thing in this game, but I'm not so sure for two reasons. LSU has yet to face a top passing attack like WVU's, and they have also yet to face a true dual threat quarterback like Geno Smith. If the Mountaineer's are able to play sound football with no turnovers for four quarters, they might be able to pull the upset in Milan-Puskar Stadium at night. Morgantown is not an easy to place to play as 'eers fans can make it nasty on an opposing opponent. 

I think LSU should be on upset alert. I'm not saying it will definitely happen, but it is a possibility. The Tigers have been through a tough slew of games thus far, and they have many more ahead of them. If they don't come to play, they'll leave with their first loss of the season. 

I'm on the fence on this game. I think WVU can pull an upset, but I love the LSU defense. I just don't see the LSU defense letting them lose this game. I think the Mountatineers have a good chance, but I doubt they'll quite be able to do it. LSU will win late in the game after their rush offense tires out the WVU front 7. 

Brian Johnson Brian Johnson
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