LSU Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Inside the Numbers Preview
Posted by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The Battle for the Golden Boot kicks off again on Saturday but under fragmentary settings. The LSU Tigers (2-3) get back on the field after an extended unscheduled break ready to get it going again against the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-4) in Fayetteville. Both teams have been battling COVID related outbreaks leading to some uncertainty as to which players fans will see on the field, but the diehards know this one is always a lively showdown with dramatic twists and turns.
Even if one follows college football religiously, an update on LSU might be needed. The Tigers have missed some key games this season against Florida and Alabama due to virus outbreaks. LSU was last season heads low walking out of Jordan-Hare Stadium after a 48-11 beatdown on Oct. 31. The offense was rolling under starting quarterback Myles Brennan but an abdominal injury suffered against Missouri (Oct. 10) has him out for the season after just three games. The offense has been turned over to true freshman TJ Finley putting a greater emphasis on the ground game to get going and the new 4-3 defense to produce some stops.
If the heart of the champion meant something tangible in college football, the Razorbacks would be a Top 10 squad. The belief system under new head coach Sam Pittman continues to rise seeing Arkansas compete for four quarters, a sight that has not happened since mid-tenure under Bret Bielema (2013-17). Arkansas returns to safety at Reynolds Razorback Stadium after a 63-35 thumping from No. 6 Florida. On the positive, the Hogs posted 35 against the No. 6 team in the nation producing 458 yards of offense. On the negative, the Gators stacked up 593 yards of total offense not taking it easy on the Hogs scoring 21 fourth quarter points.
What was a highly contested series has started to slip away from the Razorbacks. The Tigers have won the last four meetings by an average of 23.5 points. Life is different on the Arkansas sidelines in 2020, but the Hogs are struggling with key injuries and relied upon starters going through COVID protocols. We’ve not seen LSU in three weeks… who knows what to expect from their defense and which players will return from their own virus issues.
LSU Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Spread: LSU -2
*Rankings at FBS Level – 123 Active Teams
Offensive Breakdown
LSU Total Offense: 458.0 – No. 27
ARK Total Offense: 388.3 – No. 72
LSU Points Per Game: 35.8 – No. 29
ARK Points Per Game: 26.0 – No. 84
LSU Rushing Yards Per Game: 119.6
ARK Rushing Yards Per Game: 148.1
LSU Passing Yards Per Game 338.40
ARK Passing Yards Per Game: 240.1
LSU Third Down Conversion Percentage: 22-66 – 33.33
ARK Third Down Conversion Percentage: 35-97 – 36.00
LSU Red Zone Offense: 14-16
ARK Red Zone Offense: 20-23 – 87.00
LSU Key Offensive Players
RB John Emery Jr. – 246 yards, 2 TDs
RB Tyrion Davis-Price – 245 yards, 2 TDs
WR Terrace Marshall Jr. – 31 rec. for 540 yards, 9 TDs
TE Arik Gilbert – 22 rec. for 259 yards, 2 TDs
QB TJ Finley – 30-45 for 408 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
ARK Key Offensive Players
RB Trelon Smith – 441 yards, 1 TD
RB Rakeem Boyd – 309 yards 3 TDs
WR Treylon Burks – 34 rec. for 508 yards, 5 TDs
WR Mike Woods – 23 rec. for 413 yards, 4 TDs
QB Feleipe Franks – 138-202, 1,678 yards, 16 TDs, 3 INTs
Defensive Breakdown
LSU Total Defense: 478.6 – No. 112
ARK Total Defense: 428.9 – No. 79
LSU Points Allowed Per Game: 33.60 – No. 84
ARK Points Allowed Per Game: 31.4 – No. 74
LSU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 335.20
ARK Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 245.4
LSU Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 143.4
ARK Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 183.4
LSU Defensive Third Down Conversion: 31-66 – 46.97
ARK Defensive Third Down Conversion: 43-106 – 41.00
LSU Red Zone Defense: 14-19
ARK Red Zone Defense: 22-31 – 71.00
LSU Key Defensive Players
JaCoby Stevens – 36 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Damone Clark – 34 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries
Ali Gaye – 15 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 5 PBUs
ARK Key Defensive Players
Grant Morgan – 85 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBUs, 1 INT
Bumper Pool – 42 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 PBUs
Jalen Catalon – 30 tackles, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 2 FF, 1 FR
LSU Strength of Schedule: No. 54
ARK Strength of Schedule: No. 14
Photo credit: Shreveport Times: No. 6 Terrace Marshall Jr.