Can Texas Tech slow Leonard Fournette in the Texas Bowl?
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
Texas Tech (7-5) vs. LSU (8-3)
Houston
Dec. 29, 2015
LSU running back Leonard Fournette is good. Really good.
Texas Tech is not so good at stopping the run. Tuesday’s Texas Bowl is going to be a big mismatch, right? Possibly.
The Red Raiders are 125th in the country in rushing defense. Tech has allowed nearly 272 yards per game on the ground – only five teams have averaged more than that per game on offense. LSU, powered by Fournette, who has 1,741 yards this season, is averaging 246 rushing yards per game (10th in the country). It’s not a good recipe for the Red Raiders.
But LSU has struggled to pass the ball throughout the 2015 season. Tech’s rush defense could play to its average and Fournette could have a big day and the Red Raiders could still win if quarterback Brandon Harris throws for less than 100 yards. He did so four times in 2015, including in three SEC games.
The Red Raiders certainly have the offense to keep up with the Tigers if its defense is being gashed on the ground. Tech is No. 2 in the country (behind Baylor) in yards per game on offense and averages over seven yards per play. QB Patrick Mahomes has thrown for 4,283 yards and 32 touchdowns while DeAndre Washington has run for 1,455 yards and 14 scores. Tech can run the ball too; it’s just an aspect that gets overshadowed by its tempo and pass game.
This should be one of the more entertaining games of bowl season. And even if it isn’t, the Texas Bowl has already given us this picture of LSU coach Les Miles. Just think, LSU administration, had you fired Miles after the regular season, we couldn’t have been treated to this brilliance. Thank you for keeping him.
#LSU wins the @TexasBowl Rodeo Bowl competition on night 1 of bowl week. Here’s the belt to prove it. @LSUfball pic.twitter.com/GthNqBJsOy
— Michael Bonnette (@LSUBonnette) December 27, 2015
PICKS
Graham: Fournette against the Texas Tech rushing defense could create something magical. I don’t see how the Red Raiders stop him and I’m not sure they’re going to have much time to offensively keep up. LSU 38, Texas Tech 28.
Nick: Do I go with the Fournette factor? I really think Tech could pull the upset, but the NFL-caliber talent on the LSU defense is stopping me from fully believing that. Watch me be proven wrong. LSU 41-34.
Sam: Miles didn’t get fired, so LSU has that going for it. Oh yeah, the Tigers also have that Fournette guy. That seems like a good enough reason to pick LSU. LSU 34, Texas Tech 31.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
