Western Kentucky @ Louisiana State preview
Tiger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) Western Kentucky 9, Louisiana State 42
Undefeated LSU has no intention of looking ahead when the fifth-ranked Tigers host upstart Western Kentucky in a non-conference contest Saturday. The Tigers have won 51 consecutive non-conference regular-season games dating to 2002, including a perfect 32-0 at home under coach Les Miles, but they’re wary of a Hilltopper team that already has one victory over an SEC team this season.
The Hilltoppers have won four straight since a 38-35 setback at Indiana and have scored at least 49 points in four straight games, and their talent has captured the Tigers’ attention. “I voted for them to be in the top 25, if anybody asks. I think they’re that good a team,” Miles told reporters. “I think once our guys see (on video) how talented this team is, we’ll come to play.” The Tigers survived a scare from Florida last week, using a fake field goal to score the winning touchdown in a 35-28 victory. They could be in for another high-scoring affair with Heisman Trophy frontrunner Leonard Fournette powering LSU’s run-heavy offense and prolific quarterback Brandon Doughty leading the Hilltoppers’ aerial attack.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: LSU -16.5
ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (6-1): Doughty led the nation in passing last year and is putting up eye-popping numbers again, ranking third nationally in passing yards per game (387) with 24 touchdowns and four interceptions. He had a fairly quiet season debut with 209 yards and one touchdown in a 14-12 win at Vanderbilt but has racked up at least 350 passing yards in all six games since. The Hilltoppers might need a huge game from Doughty and the offense, because they’ve had a tough time stopping the run, allowing more than 172.7 yards per game on the ground.
ABOUT LSU (6-0): The Tigers can wear down opponents with their grinding ground game led by Fournette, who has eight straight games with at least 143 rushing yards dating to last season and leads the nation in rushing yards (1,202), rushing yards per game (200.3) and rushing touchdowns (14). Quarterback Brandon Harris hasn’t been asked to do much but has completed passes when needed to keep defenses honest and has yet to throw an interception. The Tigers have been strong defensively but are weakest against the pass, which could prove problematic against Doughty and the Hilltoppers.
EXTRA POINTS
1. LSU has outscored opponents 56-10 in the first quarter and 110-44 in the first half.
2. The Tigers have won 14 consecutive homecoming games dating to a 13-10 loss to UAB in 2000, which was also their last non-conference home loss.
3. Western Kentucky WR Taywan Taylor is one receiving touchdown shy of tying the school’s single-season mark of 11.
PREDICTION: LSU 35, Western Kentucky 24