LSU vs. Eastern Michigan Prediction, Game Preview

It’s been a fun first three games for LSU (3-0) with two SEC wins and a nice Power 5 road victory over Syracuse – it’s earned a relative week off. Can Eastern Michigan (1-3) provide any sort of a challenge? This is the first meeting between the two – check out the LSU vs. Eastern Michigan prediction and game preview.

LSU vs. Eastern Michigan Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Network: ESPNU

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Why You Need To Care

LSU has three solid wins under its belt, and all without a true tune-up having lost the McNeese State opener to bad weather. Now comes the easy part to try getting the passing game sharper and getting the backups some work – at least that’s the plan – before going to South Carolina and hosting Florida. The more rest the team can give Mr. Fournette this week, the better – the Tigers need him more November, not early October.

Eastern Michigan has one great win over a horrible Wyoming team, and then it went back to beating Eastern Michigan with blowout home losses to Ball State and Army West Point. It’s paycheck game time, but it also starts a rough run of three road games in the next four weeks with killers against Toledo and Northern Illinois coming up. Can the Eagles catch the Tigers napping? They have to take advantage of every possible chance to make this interesting.

Why LSU Will Win

The Tigers should be able to run the ball at will and get Leonard Fournette out of the game as soon as possible. There’s no reason to play the dinged up Heisman star for more than a few carries, especially against a defense that’s allowing 373 yards per game. All Army does is run, so the 556 yards and seven scores skews the stats a little bit, but Wyoming was able to run wild, too. Teams are averaging 6.7 yards per carry against the EMU D that’s allowed 18 rushing scores in just four games. LSU will be able to do whatever it wants to.

Why Eastern Michigan Will Win

The Eagles are running the ball well, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and coming up with just enough gashes here and there to keep the offense moving. It’s not a power attack by any means, and there’s not enough pop to the passing game to help balance things out, but there’s production inside and out. Part of the hope to keep this a battle has to come from the punting game that’s been a plus so far, averaging over 42 yards per try. LSU hasn’t been able to kick at all, averaging just over 33 yards per kick and getting nothing on kickoff returns.

Player Who Matters

Great Ibe is doing what he can. The Eastern Michigan senior linebacker came up with 132 tackles last year with ten or more in nine games. So far he’s made 43 stops with three straight double-digit tackle games including 13 against Army. While he’s not all that big at 6-0 and 222 pounds, he’s great at getting around the ball and he’s never afraid to get in on a tough stop. The plays might be made several yards down the field, but he’ll put up huge numbers against the Tigers.

What’s Going To Happen?

A sleepy LSU will get a few good drives out of Fournette, and then it’s straight to the backups in what will be an easy, efficient blowout. This is where the passing game starts to push the ball down the field a bit.

LSU vs. Eastern Michigan Prediction

Final Score: LSU 45, Eastern Michigan 7, Line: LSU -44.5, o/u: 56.5

Must See Rating: 5: Steve Jobs – 1: Dr. Ken … 1.5

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