LSU VS. SYRACUSE
Records: LSU 2-1, Syracuse 2-1. Series history: LSU leads 2-1. Key players: LSU — QB Danny Etling, RB Derrius Guice, LB Devin White; Syracuse — QB Eric Dungey, RB Dontae Strickland, SS Evan Foster
Who has the edge
Offense — Syracuse. The Orange are averaging 45.5 points in their two wins. They also have 17 scores in 18 red-zone trips, with 10 of those TDs. In last week’s win aginst Central Michigan, the Orange churned out 300 yards on 44 rushes (6.8 yards per carry) and racked up 579 total yards. WR Steve Ishmael is fifth in the country with 389 receiving yards on 34 catches. Defense —
Even. The Tigers still are a top 20 FBS defense, allowing less than 300 yards per contest, but Mississippi State exposed their deficiencies in its most lopsided win over the Tigers in 26 years. And while Syracuse isn’t really regarded for its defense, it has been impressive against the run so far, holding opponents to 84.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 10th nationally. LB Parris Bennett is the Orange’s leading tackler with 17.
Special teams — Syracuse. The Orange are better in nearly every special teams category. K Cole Murphy is 7-of-8 on FGs, with two makes from at least 40 yards. LSU kickers Jack Gonsoulin and Connor Culp are a combined 3-of6. Syracuse P Sterling Hofrichter is averaging 46.1 yards per punt (16th in FBS) and WR Sean Riley is an electric returner, with 243 yards on seven kick returns (34.7 average).
Notable: The Tigers prevailed in both meetings when they were ranked and Syracuse wasn’t, winning 13-10 in 1964 and 34-24 in 2015 in New York. But the Orange came out on top in its biggest matchup when it was ranked 17th and LSU was No. 16, winning 23-10 in the 1987 Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
About LSU: Etling’s an efficient passer, with a 138.7 rating, and the Tigers (2-1), who slipped to 25th in the AP poll, haven’t committed a turnover in three games, but their offense was ineffective in a 37-7 loss to Mississippi State because Etling threw more than the Tigers wanted to (Guice had only 15 carries), and they made too many untimely mistakes (i.e., penalties and dropped passes).
About Syracuse: The Orange are 2-1 after facing three centrally located schools. They opened with a 50-7 win over Central Connecticut State, lost 30-23 to Middle Tennessee and defeated Central Michigan 41-17 last week. Dungey passed for 279 yards and two scores and rushed 105 yards and one TD, and Strickland supplied an 18-yard, gametying TD reception and 9-yard, go-ahead score in the second quarter.