LSU will begin SEC play on the road Saturday morning with a game against a new-look Mississippi State program under first-year coach Zach Arnett.
The Week 3 schedule isn’t particularly strong on a national level, and several early season SEC matchups are among the most compelling on the slate.
USA TODAY Sports’ Eddie Timanus broke down three SEC games worth watching over the weekend, and LSU’s conference-opening matchup against the Bulldogs in Starkville made the cut alongside Florida–Tennessee and Georgia-South Carolina.
Here’s why Timanus said this game will be worth watching (as well as why it could ultimately prove not to be).
Why watch:Kicking off the day in the SEC is this West Division tilt in Starkville, where the cowbells are sure to be at full volume even with the early start time to welcome the Bayou Bengals. LSU had a needed get-right game with Grambling following its Week 1 setback against Florida State, but QB Jayden Daniels figures to get a bit more resistance from LB Jett Johnson and the Bulldogs’ defense. Miss State was able to stave off a tough challenge from Arizona last week in overtime. QB Will Rogers is a steady hand at the controls, but he must beware of active Tigers DB Duce Chestnut.
Why it could disappoint:The Bulldogs might have to return to their air-raid roots to keep the offense from bogging down. Rogers has the weapons to do it, but the combination of the Tigers’ solid secondary and effective pass rush could prove too much to overcome.
LSU will hope the game plays out as Timanus worries it might, with the front seven stuffing the Bulldogs’ run game and forcing the team to open things up in the passing game more than it has to this point in the year.
The Tigers will look to begin SEC play 1-0 on Saturday.
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