Every week is an opportunity to make a statement in the SEC, and that’s certainly the case for both Tennessee and LSU when they meet in Week 6 college football action on Saturday.
LSU is 4-1 in five games, with just one point keeping it undefeated, while Tennessee is suddenly a contender in the SEC East behind one of the top offenses in the nation.
Here’s what you need to know about this Saturday’s matchup.
Week 6 College Football Schedule: LSU vs. Tennessee
how to look
When: Saturday, October 8
Time: 11 a.m. Central
Television: ESPN network
Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
More college football on SI: college football results | college football rankings | college football schedule
Odds, point spread, betting lines
Line: Tennessee -3
Tennessee ATS: 3-1
LSU ATS: 3-2
S/U: 63.5
Money line: UT -161 LSU +125
FPI Selection: LSU 58.3%
Related: LSU vs. National Teams Tennessee Predictions: Week 6 College Football Odds, Layout, Lines
LSU vs. Tennessee: What you need to know
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels
College Football HQ turns to team experts on the SI Fannation network for detailed coverage of Saturday’s game
LSU Country’s Zack Nagy joins us to provide the biggest keys to the matchup from Death Valley.
LSU needs to get aggressive. Jayden Daniels remains conservative with football. Completing a career-best 67.9% of his throws for 915 yards and six touchdowns on the year, he doesn’t tell the whole story. Reluctance to throw the ball deep or take “risks” has plagued this offense. Look for Daniels to rely more on his arm on Saturday night and make some shots with the ball instead of the quick reads he’s used in the Tigers’ first five games. — Zack Nagy from LSU Country
Involve Kayshon Boutte. The talented wide receiver has been virtually non-existent during the Tigers’ first few games of the season. With 11 receptions for 97 yards and zero touchdowns, it hasn’t been the youthful season many expected of Boutte. Look to LSU and Jayden Daniels to get the ball to your dynamic receiver early, whether it’s on quick, short routes or lining him up at different spots on the field. — Nagy
LSU can test the Vols’ back seven. For all the attention Tennessee rightly gets for its offensive efficiency, throwing the No. 1 offense in college football along with a top-5 scoring drive, watch how Daniels works Big Orange High early in the game. Tennessee ranks 128th nationally against the pass and is one of only four teams to allow more than 300 passing yards per game. — College football headquarters
Can LSU contain Hendon Hooker? With dynamic playmakers and a signal-caller who knows how to put his guys in position to succeed, this LSU defensive line must get to Hooker to throw the Vols off their game. Hooker has yet to throw an interception this season, and his decision-making is one of his best qualities, but the Tigers’ defense presents him with a challenge he has yet to face given his depth and talent at in front of him. — Nagy
LSU vs. Tennessee: Fast Facts
+ Vols are 22-6 when scoring over 20 points and 0-2 when scoring under 20 with Josh Heupel
+ LSU has won 13 of last 14 home games against SEC East teams
+ Tennessee has 8 forced turnovers, 4th most in the SEC
+ LSU has allowed 3 second-half points to SEC opposition this season
+ Hendon Hooker has a TD in 16 straight games
+ LSU leads the SEC with a plus-5 turnover margin and turnovers (12)
+ Vols are the best in FBS with 559.3 yards per game and No. 1 in passing offense
+ LSU hasn’t allowed a point in 14 straight second-half possessions
+ Vols have scored 30 points in 7 straight games, most in SEC
+ LSU has won 9 straight games by scoring 30 points
+ UT has scored at least 1 TD in the first quarter in 16 of 17 games with Heupel
+ LSU has allowed 7 scores in 11 red zone drives, sixth nationally
+ Vols have scored 13.59 points in the first quarter the last 2 years, first in FBS
+ LSU ranks 14th nationally allowing 14.8 points per game
+ Tennessee is 11-1 when leading after 3 quarters with Heupel and 0-5 when trailing
+ LSU is 11-3 in games that start before noon local time
+ Vols are 11-0 when leading at halftime under Heupel, and 0-6 when not
LSU vs Tennessee Prediction
LSU should be the best defense Tennessee faces so far this season, and it will give Hooker and his receivers a look they haven’t seen yet.
And this should be the game where LSU gets more aggressive moving the ball in the air, as best it can against the Vols’ sluggish secondary group.
LSU can run the ball well enough to move the chains on third downs and keep Hooker off the field, but not before the Vols put up some scores and build an early lead.
College Football Venue Prediction: Tennessee 31, LSU 26
According to the AP Top 25 Poll
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Clemson
- USC
- oklahoma state
- Tennessee
- old lady
- State of Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- State of North Carolina
- forest stele
- BYU
- TCU
- University of California at Los Angeles
- Kansas
- state of kansas
- Washington
- Syracuse
- mississippi state
- Cincinnati
- LSU
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