Seven years after their epic Sugar Bowl showdown, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the LSU Tigers lock horns once again in another Bowl game, this time in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. This might not be the College Football Playoff they envisioned at the beginning of the season but expect both teams to give it their all as the Fighting Irish and the Tigers look to finish their disappointing seasons on a high note.
Read on for a preview of this Bowl matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Oregon vs. Florida State and Alabama vs. Ohio State as the inaugural College Football Playoff draws ever closer.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. LSU Tigers Betting Preview
Where: LP Field, Nashville
When: Friday, December 30, 2014, 3:00 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+7.5) vs. LSU Tigers (-7.5); total: 52.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
“There’s a way I want that position to operate, and it’s going to operate the way I want it to operate. If you operate it the way I want it done, you’ll be the starting quarterback at Notre Dame.”
[sc:NCAA240banner ]That’s the firm message of coach Brian Kelly to his quarterbacks ahead of Notre Dame’s Music Bowl clash with the LSU Tigers in just a couple of weeks time. Patience is definitely running thin for the 53-year-old after his Notre Dame side suffered a late-season meltdown that saw their national championship hopes go up in smoke.
After starting the season 6-0, the Fighting Irish imploded down the stretch, losing five of their last six games as their defense was blown out to bits by the opposition. In those five defeats, they allowed their opponents to score an average of 41.8 points. That’s way above their season average of 29.3 points allowed per game.
In some ways, however, their defensive frailties can be attributed to their failings on the offensive end. The Notre Dame defense was regularly put into tough positions by their offensive unit in the latter stages of the season, particularly Everett Golson who committed 22 turnovers in the final nine games.
Golson was simply atrocious in the Fighting Irish’s last six games, throwing 10 interceptions and committing three fumbles. His performance was so bad, he was pulled out of their last game against USC. He completed just 7 of 18 passes for 75 yards and had an interception before being replaced by sophomore Malik Zaire in the second quarter. Zaire impressed in his short stint as he finished with 170 yards passing while leading a scoring drive for the Irish as well.
The question now is: who will be Notre Dame’s starting quarterback this coming 30th of December? Surely Kelly will take into consideration the fact that LSU’s defense is ranked first in the FBS in pass efficiency this season. That would be problematic for Golson who has thrown at least one interception in his last nine games.
The Fighting Irish are 1-4 in their last five games.
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Betting on the LSU Tigers
If you’re thinking that Notre Dame is the only team in this matchup with quarterback issues, well you’re dead wrong. LSU head coach Les Miles has two weeks to decide whether Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris will be his starting quarterback when the Tigers face the Fighting Irish in the Music City Bowl.
On one hand, you have Jennings who has started all but one game for the Tigers this fall. It hasn’t gone according to plan for Jennings, however, as he has struggled to get LSU’s passing game going this season. In fact, this season is the first time in at least 10 years that the Tigers have failed to throw at least 200 passing yards in seven straight games. The Tigers are 116th in the FBS in the passing department averaging just 163.9 yards via the aerial route this season.
His backup Brandon Harris, on the other hand, was also a disappointment in his only start of the season. Given the starting duties against Auburn, Harris imploded, completing just 3 of 14 passes for a measly 58-yard performance. With so much uncertainty regarding LSU’s quarterback situation, they’ve done well to finish the season with an 8-4 record.
They managed to accomplish that feat mainly because of their stellar defense. The Tigers are eighth in the entire FBS in total defense, allowing an average of 305.8 yards per game. The Tigers have also shut down their opponents scoring-wise, allowing just 16.4 points per game this season, third-best in the entire nation.
Regardless of whether Golson or Zaire will start for Notre Dame, the Tigers will need to make sure they pay significant attention to Notre Dame wide receiver William Fuller. He has scored five touchdowns and averaged 109.5 yards in the Fighting Irish’s final four games. The Tigers will fancy their chances of stopping him, though, as they are fourth in the FBS in passing defense, limiting opponents to just 162.3 passing yards per game.
Still, defense alone won’t be enough for LSU to win this ballgame. They will need to generate some form of offense and fortunately for them running back Leonard Fournette is peaking at exactly the right time. The freshman was scintillating in LSU’s final regular-season game against Texas A&M, running for 146 yards and a touchdown to lead the Tigers to a 23-17 victory. He will take on a Notre Dame defensive line that is 62nd in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing 161.7 yards per game on the ground this season.
The Tigers are 3-2 in their last five games.
Writer’s Prediction
LSU (-7.5) rolls past Notre Dame, 34-24.
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