LSU will rebound but not dominate against Syracuse

Can Ed Orgeron’s team bounce back?

His LSU Tigers will play the Syracuse Orange from the ACC on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium with the tatse of last week’s beatdown at Mississippi State in Starkville still very much in the mouths of all Tiger faithful. It was the third loss for Orgeron at LSU since games as interim coach are counted in his career totals. It was also the worst of the three by far.

After both games the Tigers lost last season under Orgeron, his team bounced back with convincing wins. LSU lost to Alabama, 10-0, then rebounded with a convincing 38-10 win over Arkansas. LSU lost to Florida, 16-10, but handled a short week and road trip to defeat Texas A&M by a score of 54-39. The small snapshot of history indicates that LSU will bounce back. It helps that LSU is favored by over three touchdowns over a mediocre Syracuse squad.

There are two significant differences between last season and today that must be examined. Last year’s LSU team was pretty good, loaded with experience and players headed to the next level. The current group of Tigers are very young while suspensions and injuries have taken a toll through just three games. Also, the Mississippi State team was an underdog to LSU and beat them like no Bulldogs team has done in history. It was no fluke in Starkville as LSU was soundly beaten.

It has been announced late Thursday that Derrius Guice will play on Saturday after reports indicated that he hurt his left knee against Mississippi State. Perhaps he plays a little bit against Syracuse but keeping him available for SEC games to come is even more important.

If I were a betting man, I would take Syracuse and the points. I think the youth and inexperience of LSU will yield a bounce back, but not as convincing of a win as last year’s team was capable of producing. These Tigers simply are not as capable.

Last week I was completely wrong on my prediction. As an old friend once pegged it poerfectly: “I am often wrong, but never in doubt.”

With that said, I will go with LSU 27, Syracuse 17.