Get to Know LSU:
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Established: 1860
- Enrollment: 37,354
- Mascot: Tigers
- Colors: Purple and “gold”
- Conference: SEC (duh)
What You Need to Know:
- Texas A&M is 7-0 (4-0) and ranked No. 3 in the country. This is the first time A&M has started a season 7-0 since 1994 and the first time they’ve been ranked in the top three since 1995.
- LSU is 5—2 (2-2) and ranked No. 20 after a road loss to Vanderbilt last week.
- LSU ranks No. 41 nationally in rushing defense and No. 32 in passing defense (both stout units), and will go up against an A&M offense that is No. 30 in rushing and No. 36 in passing. On the other side of the ball, A&M is No. 22 against the run and No. 38 against the pass, while an LSU offense that is No. 117 in rushing and No. 50 passing. Suffice to say the A&M offense has their work cut out for them, but the defense should face a less stiff test than last week.
Betting Lines:
- The Aggies are a 2.5-point favorite
- The over/under is 49.5.
Historical Notes:
- LSU leads the all-time series 36-24, but A&M leads the series 4-3 since 2018.
- A&M has not won in Death Valley since 1994.
- Famous LSU alumni include Shaq, Joe Burrow. Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman, ESPN’s Booger McFarland, rock band Better Than Ezra and “Old School” star James Carville.
What To Watch For:
- Statement game? A&M hasn’t won in Death Valley in over 30 years (and never as an SEC member) and hasn’t faced a ranked opponent since Notre Dame in Week 3. This game would go a long way in solidifying A&M’s case as both a Playoff team and a legit contender in the SEC.
- BK hotseat? There seems to be some restlessness about Head Coach Brian Kelly among the LSU faithful. A win against a top 3 team to vault them back into potential Playoff contention might calm a lot of that, but on the flipside, losing for the third time in four games with Alabama on deck might make change restlessness to full on insomnia in Baton Rouge.
- Which QB wins? While it’s generally a lazy oversimplification to pin the outcome of a game on the QB, this may be a game where it is more accurate than usual. LSU has struggled mightily in the run game, so their offensive hopes rest squarely on the shoulders of QB Garrett Nussmeier; on the A&M side, Marcel Reed has to avoid the prolonged offensive droughts that have crept into his game from time to time this season, especially against an LSU defense that will limit your opportunities.
Media Blitz:
- Venue: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
- TV: ABC
Weather:
- Cloudy with showers. High of 79, low of 64. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
