Bruce Ailer

11/29/2024

lsu

Well, folks, we've got a thrilling SEC showdown on our hands as the Oklahoma Sooners roll into Death Valley to take on the LSU Tigers this Saturday. With the stakes high, both teams are rarin' to end the regular season on a high note. Oklahoma, sittin' at 6-5, is lookin' for a win to secure a 25th winning season outta the last 26, hopin' for a sweeter bowl game invitation. Meanwhile, LSU's got their sights on nine victories for a third consecutive year, provided they win this game and their bowl match. You bet the key matchup here is gonna be Oklahoma's ground game against a tough Tigers' defensive front. The Sooners have been runnin' wild lately, with over 226 yards per game on the ground, includin' that memorable 257-yard rushin' upset over mighty Alabama. Keep an eye on Oklahoma's dynamic QB Jackson Arnold, throwin' for 773 yards and countin' and runnin' for 231 yards since he got back the startin' job five games ago. In contrast, LSU boasts the league's pass-catchin' leader, WR Kyren Lacy, with eight TDs and a whopping 825 yards receivin'. Now, it might surprise y'all, but these teams have never met in the regular season before. With the Sooners never playin' in Tiger Stadium, the atmosphere is set to be electrifyin'. Coach Brent Venables has tangled with LSU thrice as a defensive coordinator, but never from the head coachin' helm. Defensively, Oklahoma ranks impressively, surrenderin' a scant 2.9 yards per rush this season, with their performance improvin' to 2.6 yards over the last five games. As we look toward the final whistle, I'm hedgin' my bets on LSU to defend their strong home record, especially at night, under the lights of Death Valley. Expect a cracker of a game, y'all, but I do reckon LSU's steady at home and gonna edge this one out.