Bengal Tiger Staff Predictions: LSU vs. Missouri
No. 23 LSU enters Saturday’s 11 a.m. contest in need of a win against No. 21 Missouri on the road. Brian Kelly’s team enters as slight favorites and spent the entire week talking about the resolve and coming in with the right attitude. All of that will be challenged against a Missouri team that’s coming in with the expectation to go toe-to-toe with LSU.
“There’s definitely a grit and a willingness to do what’s necessary, but I think that’s in the preparation,” Kelly said. “We’re going to give our guys the blueprint, but they have to fix it. I can’t fix it, I’m not a very good player. Our guys have to fix it and I’m confident they will. I like the resolve in the guys, the attention has been great, the meetings have been great and I’m excited to watch them play.”
Here’s how the Bengal Tigers staff sees this game playing out with their thoughts and final predictions.
Shea Dixon
LSU is down and out after giving up the most yards on defense in school history, right? Don’t count the Tigers out just yet. LSU has a Top 5 offense and have faced a Top 5 strength of schedule, per ESPN. Meanwhile, Missouri’s SOS is 95th, and the lone SEC win came in a 38-21 win over Vanderbilt. Yes, Brady Cook has been great at QB, and Luther Burden is elite as they come at WR. That said, Mizzou’s best win is a 3-point victory over Kansas State, and they beat MTSU by 4 points. The highest point total so far for Mizzou: 38. Meanwhile, LSU has put up at least 34 points in each game minus a 24-point effort vs FSU when 21 of the points came in the first half. The defense won’t be as bad as it was in Oxford. Beyond Week 1, LSU’s offense has proven it can click even after a slow start. I’m not tossing LSU’s season out just yet. The Tigers might surprise this weekend.
Prediction: LSU 38, Missouri 31
Billy Embody
LSU is trying to bounce back from one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen since I started covering the Tigers. Hiring Pete Jenkins as an analyst, someone who eats and breathes defensive line craft, will be a boost for that group. If they can get down any of the basics he impresses upon them, that’d help a good bit. I expect the defense to bounce back a little bit. At this stage, the group is what it is on the backend, but any sort of pressure can help. That’s where I feel like the d-line steps up just enough. The offense takes care of business in another high-scoring affair.
Prediction: LSU 45, Missouri 38
Matthew Brune
This is the make or break point for LSU’s season. Not, Texas A&M or Alabama, but a road trip to Missouri coming off of a disheartening loss to Ole Miss will decide how much this team has left in the tank. The resolve of the 2022 team was one of its best qualities, but through five games, we’ve seen the 2023 LSU team fail to answer to adversity against Florida State and Ole Miss. Missouri enters with an excellent passing attack that will give LSU fits and a home atmosphere that will be into the game supporting their undefeated team. I expect both offenses to score comfortably in the 30s on Saturday morning , but with the better quarterback and overall offense, LSU should be able to outscore Missouri and escape with a win.
Prediction: LSU 41, Missouri 35
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