The LSU Tigers will play the Louisville Cardinals in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on December 31st.
The Louisville Cardinals are 9-3 (7-1) this season after losing to Kentucky by a score of 41-38 in their last game. Louisville lost their last 2 games of the season and finished tied for 1st in the ACC Atlantic standings. Louisville has beaten Wake Forest, Boston College, Virginia, Duke, NC State, Marshall, Florida State, Syracuse, and Charlotte this year. The Louisville offense is averaging 45.3 points per game with 256.8 rushing yards and 302 passing yards per game. Lamar Jackson was the Heisman winner this season and is completing 57.6% of his passes for 3390 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions for Louisville. Lamar Jackson has rushed for 1538 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Brandon Radcliff has added 877 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns for the Cardinals. James Quick has caught 42 passes for 688 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Cole Hikutini has caught 49 passes for 656 yards and 8 scores for Louisville. The Louisville defense is giving up 23.3 points per game with 110 rushing yards and 206.3 passing yards per game. Keith Kelsey has led the Cardinals defense with 81 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack, while Stacy Thomas has added 74 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Blanton Creque has gone 13-16 on field goals, with a long of 43 yards.
The LSU Tigers are 7-4 (5-3) this season after beating Texas A&M by a score of 54-39 in their last game. LSU lost 2 of their last 4 games and finished tied for 2nd in the SEC West standings. LSU has wins against Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Missouri, Mississippi State, and Jacksonville State this season. The LSU offense is averaging 28.3 points per game with 238.1 rushing yards and 187.6 passing yards per game. Danny Etling is completing 60% of his passes for 1906 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions for LSU. Derrius Guice has rushed for 1249 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Leonard Fournette (Questionable) has added 843 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Tigers. Malachi Dupre has caught 34 passes for 454 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Travin Dural has added 28 catches for 280 yards and 1 score for LSU. The LSU defense is giving up 16.4 points per game with 121.8 rushing yards and 201.2 passing yards per game. Kendell Beckwith has led the LSU defense with 91 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 1 sack, while Duke Riley has added 85 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception. Colby Delahoussaye has gone 9-12 on field goals, with a long of 44 yards for the Tigers.
LSU is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games. The under is 11-3-2 in LSU’s last 16. Louisville is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games. The over is 9-2 in Louisville’s last 11 games on turf.
This should be a fantastic game between a very good offensive Louisville team and a very good defensive LSU team. Louisville hasn’t played well to end the season, while LSU is coming off of a nice win. Lamar Jackson will be looking to give us an encore to his Heisman season, but will be facing a stiff defense. LSU hasn’t been very good ATS in their recent bowl games, so I am going with Louisville.