No. 21 LSU hosts No. 6 Texas in Death Valley on Saturday for a key SEC game at Tiger Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM Eastern on ABC. The Tigers enter the contest at 6-3 overall, while the Longhorns hold a 7-2 record and sit as 4.5-point road underdogs according to DraftKings odds.
LSU needs a victory to keep its playoff aspirations alive after falling 31-13 at home to Alabama. Meanwhile, Texas rides a three-game winning streak featuring victories over Missouri, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.
Texas has scored at least 31 points in each of its last three outings. Arch Manning has thrown for 517 yards and six touchdowns over his past two appearances, matching his career high for a two-game stretch.
Steve Sarkisian’s squad averages 31.1 points per game on the season. Yet, ball security remains a concern with six turnovers and 26 penalties racked up during their current three-game run.
Sam Leavitt and the LSU offense stalled against Alabama, managing a season-low 13 points and failing to convert on four attempts on fourth down. Leavitt recorded zero touchdown passes for the first time all year while attempting 47 passes.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin commands an offense averaging 37.1 points per contest. The Tigers boast a 6-0 record when holding opponents to 30 points or fewer, relying heavily on a defense anchored by defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen.
Texas defensive boost arrives with edge rusher Colin Simmons returning from an injury absence. Simmons has accumulated 10.5 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss across six games.
DraftKings lists LSU at -205 on the moneyline with a game total set at 46.5 points. Vaughn Dalzell leans toward LSU -4.5 and the Under.
“These are two nasty defenses that have carried the load this season. Both units have thrived at creating pressure, and both have two of the best pass rushers in the entire country, said Vaughn Dalzell.”
Dalzell expects an aggressive approach from Kiffin as the regular season reaches its climax. The action gets underway under the lights in Baton Rouge on Saturday night.
