Sugar Bowl 1-3-2007 LSU vs Notre Dame

[sandgk]

I was just trying to get a handle on how hard of a task Notre Dame faces in handling their Sugar Bowl opponents. The numbers look far from good. In fact, LSU may arguably be the hardest test this season since Michigan. They do to passing teams exactly that which Notre Dame would not wish - keep them well below their season average on Passing, and they have a pretty good knack for making sacks and netting interceptions.

Stats - rank
LSU - Total Defense - national rank, 2nd, yielding a shade under 239 yards per game.
Rushing Defense - 15th in the nation - giving up 93.3 yards per game
Pass Defense - 3rd in the nation - yielding only 145.5 yards per game, 9 aerial TDs and netting 14 INTs.
Scoring Defense - a miserly 12.5 points per game and a #4 ranking.

When LSU has ball in hand
On Rushing Offense 37th ranked nationally shade over 159 ypg, 22 TD
Through the air a 23rd national rank, 28 TDs in production and exactly 245 yards per game.
Overall national rank on Offense 12th.
Average points scored - 10th in the nation with 33.08 ppg.

OK - what about the Irish?
Well, there is one bright spot, passes intercepted. LSU is pretty good at intercepting errant passes - but the Irish have one of the lowest interception totals in the nation, tied for 5th place with 5 in fact (exactly the same as the Buckeyes).
NDs average scoring - 12th in the nation at 32.42 ppg
Passing Offense dominates (suprise - not really) 10th in the nation with 273.8 ypg, 35 TD
Rushing is a less attractive 76th ranking with 124.25 ypg, 14TD
Overall current ranking is 22nd with 398 ypg

On D - again few surprises really, other than some consistency, both the Rushing D and Passing D are 50th ranked in the nation.
Rushing D yields 8TD on 127.8 ypg. Sounds like that might even be a run-stuff D in training, but in truth it is because opponents can still count on excellent production through the air.
Passing D for the Irish yields 192.67 ypg and 22TD.
Scoring D is 57th in the nation average of 22.4 ppg. Total Defense ranks 45th with 320.50 ypg.

How good were the Tigers at keeping passing offenses below average?
In two games against SEC opponents they kept Tennessee to 77 below their average Passing yards per game {gained 187 vs LSU}, and kept Kentucky (which this year sported the 9th ranked pass game in the nation) to 82 yards below their average {gained 166 vs LSU}.

This could be a bloody Wednesday night in the Big Easy.

Conversely, if ND does indeed pull-off a win, they will deserve some manner of plaudit.

[BB73]

I think this is just about the worst matchup ND could have gotten.

They have problems on offense against a good pass rush, which LSU has.

They have problems on defense agasint fast receivers, which LSU has.

And it's in LSU's back yard. I think it's an easy double-digit win for LSU.

[Thump]

No one I know gives a [censored] about this game.

If I want to watch ND get thoroughly dominated, I can just pop in a DVD of last year's Fiesta Bowl.

[Dryden]

Attached is a side-by-side comparative stat breakdown as a gif image, since the HTML on BP hasn't been working for awhile.

Statistically speaking, LSU is the second most dominant team this year behind only Ohio State.

Notre Dame ranks around the mid-20s.

[NightmaresDad]

So, will this be a Tyson vs Spinks type beatdown, or will it be more like a Todd Bridges vs Barry Williams beatdown, or will it be more like Kimo Von Olhaufen vs Carson Plalmer's knee?

[Bucky Katt]

This wil be the ugliest scene at the Superdome since....jeez, even I find that comment tasteless. Nevermind.


Go Bayou Bengals!!!!