5 Reasons Why the LSU Tigers Will Win the College Football Playoff
After a convincing 37-10 win over then- No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, the LSU Tigers’ (13-0, 8-0) impressive showing was rewarded with a top seed in the College Football Playoff. With the four-team playoff set Sunday night, LSU will face Big 12 champions, No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1), while No. 2 seed Ohio State (13-0), out of the Big Ten, will collide against the ACC’s top team, No. 3 Clemson (13-0). All teams know the task at hand and what is on the line. Now it is up to LSU to bring home their first national championship since the 2007 season.
The college game has turned into an offensive production, and to no surprise all four of the College Football Playoff teams are among the best in the country each ranked in the top-5. No other team has the firepower to move the ball up and down the field while lighting up the scoreboard like LSU. The Tigers overwhelmed the opposition throughout the 2019 schedule finishing first in total offense at a clip of 554 yards per game. The rate of production against top competition led to a 48 point per game scoring average. While knocked for much of the season, the Tigers’ defense is better than advertised. This unit held teams to 341 total yards per outing and 21 points per game.
With the best offense in the country and one of the top defenses in the FBS ranks, can LSU work their way past Oklahoma and the winner of the Ohio State/Clemson showdown for their third claimed national championship in school history?
5 Reasons Why LSU Will Win the CFB Playoff
LSU is Battle Tested
The Tigers’ perfect season was not without several tests along the way squaring off against five top-10 teams (Texas, Auburn, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia). In comparison, the Sooners played against one top-10 team, Baylor, a team the Sooners had already beaten once during the regular season. Ohio State was not tested by a top team until late in the season defeating then- No. 8 Penn State and No. 8 Wisconsin (now a three-loss team). All present a better resume than Clemson. The Tigers played two ranked teams all season, Texas A&M and Virginia, both now out of the top-25.
According to USA Today’s College Football Rankings, LSU has the highest rated strength of schedule among the four playoff teams at No. 10 followed by No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 18 Ohio State, and No. 60 Clemson.
Joe Burrow
Any conversation about the 2019 LSU team in detail must start with senior quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow has not only been elite by SEC standards, but he has thrown for the second most yards in the nation (4,715), the most touchdowns (48) and with the highest passer rating nationally (201.5). The prolific stats were not compiled against creampuffs either. On the biggest stage, the winner of the Unitas Golden Arm Award has delivered averaging 365 yards per game with 15 total touchdowns tossed against the five ranked teams played. With the No. 1 CFB Playoff seed on the line, along with a SEC Championship, Burrow turned in a gem against the nation’s fourth best defense completing 28 of 38 passes for 349 yards with four touchdowns.
The Tigers Receiving Corps
While most teams are lucky to have one true No. 1 receiver, the Tigers have two in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Chase leads the nation in yards (1,498) and touchdowns (18) and is doing so on just 73 receptions. Jefferson is the nation’s eighth best receiver in receiving yards (1,207) and is among the FBS leaders in receptions (88) and touchdowns (14). No other playoff team is close to LSU’s production at the receiver position. Oklahoma is the only other playoff team with a 1,000-yard receiver (CeeDee Lamb).
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
To win the national championship, a team cannot be one dimensional on offense. For LSU, that balance keeping defenses honest centers on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The junior is second in the SEC in rush yards (1,290) while leading all in touchdowns scored (16). As a unit, LSU is averaging 168 yards per game and improving. Over the last six games of the season, and that includes three teams ranked in the top-20 in total defense (Auburn, Alabama, and Georgia), LSU is averaging 183 yards on the ground.
LSU’s Defense
While no longer the statistical juggernaut on defense as seen in years past, LSU’s defense has gotten it done all season with a well-balanced group. The rush unit is locking down at 120 per while the secondary has been a little more generous at 222 yards on average. But has done so having faced three top-30 total offense squads (Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss).
The play up front is led by All-SEC tackle Rashard Lawrence and nose guard Tyler Shelvin. In the box, linebacker Jacob Phillips leads the team in tackles (97) with outside backer K’Lavon Chaisson creating chaos in the backfield leading the team in tackles for a loss (11.5). The Tigers’ secondary is unique against the pass and the run. Not only is safety JaCoby Stevens second on the team in total stops (82), but he leads the team in sacks with five. His counterpart, Grant Delpit, is arguably the best safety in the nation. At the corners, Kristian Fulton and true freshman Derek Stingley can run with any receiver in the country. Stingley leads the Tigers in picks (6) and pass breakups (15) with Fulton defending 12 passes on the season.
*Originally posted on Dec. 9, 2019
Photo credit: Fan Buzz; Joe Burrow SEC Championship Game 2019