Les Miles and his No. 14 LSU Tigers have one of the toughest schedules in the nation, which is to be expected when your team plays in the SEC. However, the Tigers first game this 2015 will be against a relative unknown in the FCS-playing McNeese State Cowboys. Will the Tigers crush McNeese State? Or will the Cowboys send shockwaves across college football nation with a huge upset win in Baton Rouge?
Read on for more about this colossal Week 1 matchup. And while you’re at it, you can also check out our preview of No. 20 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Alabama here.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]McNeese State Cowboys vs. LSU Tigers Preview
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge
When: Saturday, September 5, 7:30 PM ET
Line: McNeese State Cowboys at LSU Tigers – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the McNeese State Cowboys
[sc:NCAA240banner ]If at first look, you think that McNeese State is merely a deer on the headlights of the Tigers, then you’re not the only one harboring that pity for the Cowboys. After all, this is an FCS team, which finished with a 6-5 record overall and just 4-4 in conference play in 2014. But folks who remember the scare the Cowboys put on Nebraska last season know better than to underestimate the boys from the Southland conference.
Against the Cornhuskers in McNeese State’s season opener last year, the Cowboys leaned on their rushing attack to nearly upset Nebraska, 31-24. Dual-threat and then backup quarterback Daniel Sams led all Cowboys with 74 rushing yards but it was the pair of Derrick Milton and starting signal-caller Tyler Boffing that delivered the goods on the ground, as each player reached the end zone once. Overall, the Cowboys rushed for 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns.The Cowboys may not be able to get as much success against LSU’s vaunted defense, but that don’t expect them to be discouraged from pounding the ball to their backfield.
Sams led the team last season with 765 rushing yards to go along with two rushing touchdowns. Running back Dylan Long, meanwhile, should be McNeese State’s primary rusher, following a season in which he registered 10 touchdowns on 360 rushing yards. That said, the Cowboys must be able to show some variety on offense to keep LSU guessing. The Cowboys, though, have a questionable receiving corps especially now that top receiver, Jereon McGilvery and is no longer part of the roster. Junior Khalil Thomas, who caught for five touchdowns on 271 receiving yards, must be able to step up in McGilvery‘s absence.
McNeese State is 3-1 in its last three road games.
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Betting on the LSU Tigers
LSU may be looking past the Cowboys, but the Tigers have no choice but to deal with McNeese State first before they even think of a game plan against Mississippi State and Auburn—their Week 2 and 3 opponents, respectively.
If anything, this matchup should give LSU a nice warm up before it tackles the aforementioned SEC heavyweights. The Tigers are 3-2 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Les Miles hasn’t named a starting quarterback as of this writing, but regardless of whoever between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will get the gig against McNeese State, he should have little problem dissecting the Cowboys’ defense that allowed opponents from scoring 27 times in 32 tries (84.3 percent) in the red zone last year.
There is little to debate, meanwhile, in who the top dog is in LSU’s backfield. That title undoubtedly belongs to sophomore running back Leo Fournette, who many are expecting to have a huge season. Last year, Fournette led the team with 1,034 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 187 carries.
Where the Tigers should really dominate in this game is on the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers boast of one of the best defensive units in the nation, one that made opponents bleed for 17.5 points per game last season. LSU’s secondary look primed to maul the Cowboys should McNeese State opt to pass. Cornerback Tre’Davious White leads the Tigers’ secondary cast along with the likes of former Freshman All-American corner Jalen Mills. Back in 2014, LSU ranked third in the nation with only 164.2 passing yards allowed per game.
Writer’s Prediction
LSU wins, 41-14.
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