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Here are 10 bold predictions for LSU’s Citrus Bowl matchup against Notre Dame, set for 1 p.m. ET Monday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
1. LSU will runs lots of shifts and motion on offense
OK, so offensive coordinator Matt Canada might not be petty enough to go overboard, but this is expected to be Canada’s last game with the Tigers because of a rift with head coach Ed Orgeron.
The rift first surfaced when Orgeron had Canada limit his signature motion and shifting to start a 24-21 loss to Troy that was the low point of the season. It would be understandable if Canada wanted to leave his fingerprints on his final game by having the Tigers run the scheme for which he is known.
2. Derrius Guice will go well over 100 yards
Notre Dame is capable of slowing him down, but Guice should be healthier than he has been for most of the season and the offensive line was getting stronger down the stretch. This may well be Guice’s last opportunity to impress NFL scouts in a game, and he’ll leave them with something to remember should he decide to bypass his senior season.
3. Notre Dame’s run game will keep up with LSU’s
The Tigers will miss injured linebackers Donnie Alexander and Corey Thompson. Irish QB Brandon Wimbush and RB Josh Adams were banged up down the stretch, and thus Notre Dame didn’t run the ball as well as it did at mid-season. But the Irish should be healthier and their line should create holes against a stout but short-handed Tigers defense.
4. Notre Dame won’t reach end zone in the fourth quarter
Though the Irish will have success running the football, Dave Aranda’s defense has reliably gotten better as games have gone along, usually being at its best in the fourth quarter. The Tigers have held their last seven opponents to a combined 11 fourth-quarter points, holding Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas A&M scoreless in the final period. Ole Miss scored eight points and Alabama had three in the fourth quarter.
5. The LSU kicking game will have at least one blunder
The Tigers have had kicking problems all season with both Connor Culp and Jack Gonsoulin struggling at times. Now one of them will likely handle the kickoff duties because Cameron Gamble is ineligible for this game. Whether it’s a missed field goal, missed extra point or sloppy kickoff that gives the Irish favorable field position, something will hurt the Tigers.
6. Danny Etling won’t turn the ball over
The senior QB’s biggest strength all season has been his ability to stay away from turnovers. Coming off one of the best games of his career in the victory against Texas A&M in the regular-season finale, Etling will be poised, efficient and make a few big plays after the Irish become even more Guice-conscious with his early success.
Etling has averaged one interception every 73 passes, the second-best ratio in SEC history among quarterbacks who have thrown at least 400 passes.
7. Notre Dame will get a takeaway
The Tigers have been very disciplined about not fumbling. They have lost just four fumbles this season; Notre Dame has recovered 10 fumbles by opponents. The Irish have a hard-hitting defense and will find a way to jar the ball loose from an LSU ball carrier and take it away.
8. Greedy Williams will get a takeaway too
Williams led the SEC with five interceptions and will be hunting for No. 6 against the Irish’s relatively limited passing attack. Though Arden Key won’t be there to contribute to the pass rush, Williams will find a way to get his hands on the ball for a takeaway.
9. Devin White will have more than a dozen tackles
He averages more than 10 per game so you can expect him to be around the ball a lot in every game. But given the Irish’s affinity for running the ball and the relative inexperience of the other linebackers, White will be even more active than normal.
10. There will be some tired LSU fans in the stands
The fact that the New Orleans Saints are playing in nearby Tampa on Sunday in search of an NFC South championship will tempt some Tigers fans to double up on their football pleasure. The Saints game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve. A little more than an hour’s drive away, the Tigers kick off at 1 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day, leaving little recovery time in between.
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.
