Louisiana State Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 14th 2024

Preview and Prediction

LSU suffered a defeat in their first game of the season and did not perform exceptionally well in their second game against a weaker opponent, despite securing a win.

In contrast, South Carolina narrowly avoided a loss in their opener against a weaker team, but then went on to achieve an impressive victory on the road last week.

Both teams are still in the process of figuring out their strengths and weaknesses as they prepare to face each other in a conference game on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Tigers, ranked No. 16, lost to Southern California 27-20 in Las Vegas on September 1st, before bouncing back with a 44-21 win against FCS team Nicholls in their home opener six days later. Although they were only leading by two points in the third quarter, LSU managed to score 21 unanswered points to secure the victory.

This will be their first true road game of the season.

Head coach Brian Kelly stated, "We have a lot of players who have experience playing on the road and understand what it takes to win in that environment. It requires focus and a commitment to giving your all on every single play. I have confidence in this group of players, but they will need to bring their best performance when it matters most."

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who will be starting his fourth game and first on an opponent's home field, is currently tied for first in the nation with eight touchdown passes, six of which were thrown in the game against Nicholls.

Kelly added, "If teams continue to focus on stopping our running game, Nussmeier has proven to be a strong passer and we have a talented group of receivers who can make big plays."

One of those receivers is Kyren Lacy, who is among three players tied for the most touchdown receptions in the country with four.

The game against Nicholls allowed Kelly to give playing time to several inexperienced players, who stepped up and performed well.

He said, "We had a number of first-time players who played exceptional football for us. It was a great opportunity for them to gain valuable experience."

On the other side, South Carolina has lost their last seven meetings with LSU. They narrowly defeated Old Dominion 23-19 in their opener, before making a statement with a dominant 31-6 win against Kentucky in their first SEC game of the season.

Head coach Shane Beamer emphasized the importance of staying focused and not getting caught up in the outside noise, saying, "We can't worry about what people are saying about us. Last week it was, 'What's wrong with you guys?' and now it's, 'You're the best.' We just need to focus on ourselves and continue to improve."

ESPN's Gameday program will be in attendance for Saturday's game, adding to the excitement and pressure for both teams.

Beamer acknowledged the added distractions and emphasized the need to handle success in the right way, stating, "We need to handle the spotlight and attention in the right way. We can't let it affect our preparation and focus. We need to stay grounded and continue to work hard."

PREDICTION

Louisiana State Tigers

28

21

South Carolina Gamecocks

Louisiana State Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Recap SEP 14TH 2024