The biggest game on the college football slate this week, LSU at Ole Miss, has “shootout” written all over it, with both squads rocking high-powered offenses and top-tier quarterbacks ready to sling it. This one is set to be an absolute barn burner, the kind of game that keeps you glued to the screen until the final whistle, especially with some serious statistical oddities at play for one of these teams.
Ole Miss’s Explosive Offense vs. LSU’s Brick Wall Defense
Let’s talk about Ole Miss, because their offense is legit. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is absolutely tearing it up, already piling up 561 passing yards and five touchdowns. He was dropping tons of yards and points in last year’s Playoff, and he’s doing the exact same thing in his second season as a starter. They’ve put up 41 points in both of their games, and while putting up 41 against Charlotte is one thing, the 41 they hung on Louisville is a way more significant statement. Running back Kewan Lacy is also doing his part, averaging a solid five yards per carry on his 30 touches so far this season.
The challenge for them, though, is LSU’s defense. These Tigers have been absolutely outstanding in the first two weeks of the season, period. They’re ranked first in yards per drive, which is just insane, and they are relentlessly active at getting after the quarterback. They absolutely embarrassed Clemson in Week 1, making those Tigers look silly, and then they held Louisiana Tech scoreless on offense until way late in their game. This is going to be a much more difficult test for Ole Miss than their first two opponents, no doubt. But on the flip side? LSU hasn’t seen a QB like Chambliss yet, and that’s the wild card.
LSU’s Tricky Scoring and Ole Miss’s Leaky Defense
Now, let’s flip the field to LSU’s offense. They put up a massive 51 points against Clemson in Week 1, and then followed that up with 45 points against Louisiana Tech last Saturday. You see those numbers and think “unstoppable,” right? Well, here’s the kicker: the actual underlying numbers say this offense isn’t nearly as good as that near-50 points per weekend suggests. They’re ranked 40th in points per drive and 46th in yards per play. Plus, a full 25% of their drives have ended in a three-and-out. That’s not the mark of an elite offense, despite the big scores.
Lucky for LSU, they’re running into an Ole Miss defense that’s, to put it mildly, fairly leaky. This unit ranks a dismal 118th in yards per play. Let’s be real, even Charlotte was able to gain over five yards per play against them last weekend! So, if LSU can just keep their heads, avoid those drive-killing penalties and turnovers, they should absolutely be able to score on most of their drives.
Kyson Brown Is Exploding and Kansas Needs To Brace For Impact
Away from that SEC showdown, there’s another player making some noise that you need to know about. Arizona State running back Kyson Brown is quietly having an incredible start to his season. He’s only got 19 carries so far, but he’s already racked up 146 yards. Do the math: that’s an absolutely bananas 7.7 yards per carry! Last weekend, he put up 66 yards on just 13 carries against Texas A&M.
He’s set up for another monster performance against Kansas. The Kansas run defense has an interesting, if not concerning, profile. They’re generally “fine,” but they are notorious for giving up explosive runs and their tackling skills aren’t exactly top-tier. Just last weekend, Missouri’s two running backs combined for 170 yards on 38 carries, good for 4.5 yards per pop. So, if you’re looking for an impact player, Brown is primed for a huge game for the Sun Devils.
This Week 3 slate is packed with potential fireworks, from the high-scoring clash in the SEC to a breakout performance on the ground for Arizona State. Get ready, because these games are going to deliver!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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