Citrus Bowl – We’ve Seen This Before, Right?

The last time that LSU and Notre Dame met in a bowl game, we got perhaps one of the best games of the 2014 bowl season.  The Fighting Irish knocked off the Tigers in the Music City Bowl, 31-28, in a back and forth game that was worth watching again.

This season could not have started any differently for these two teams.  Notre Dame opened up the year hot, running off 7 wins in a row after a tough home loss to Georgia to get their record to 8-1.  The Irish were in the mix for a top four ranking and were looking as if they were locks for a New Year’s Six appearance.  Then they went to Miami, and the Hurricanes blew them out.  Two weeks later Stanford blew them out, and Notre Dame ended up in the Citrus Bowl.

On the last day in September, Troy knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge.  The Tigers were 3-2 and the LSU faithful were dumbfounded as to how the season was unfolding.  Back to back wins over Florida and Auburn the next two weeks helped the morale in Baton Rouge as the Tigers went 6-1 after the loss to Troy to finish 9-3 and earn a spot in the Citrus Bowl.

Talk about teams headed in opposite directions.

Both teams come in a little shorthanded, as Notre Dame had a trio of players suspended for the game, while LSU is playing without all three starting linebackers.  Notre Dame has perhaps the best offensive line in the country, led by Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey.  Those two have paved the way for Josh Adams and Brandon Wimbush on the ground.  LSU is led offensively by Danny Etling and Derrius Guice, who is expected to play today.

I expect both teams to have strong games on the ground and points to be scored early and often.  Last time we got a classic, today could provide the same.

LSU scores one more time than Notre Dame, 38-34.