I thought Eastern Michigan University had little to no chance of posing No. 9 LSU a threat before I looked at the numbers.
But after looking at the matchup on paper, I’m convinced this game will get ugly for the Eagles well before halftime.
Eastern Michigan allowed a whopping 1,493 yards rushing this season. The Eagles only played four games. Translation: Eastern Michigan is allowing 373.3 rushing yards per game. That is the most rushing yards allowed by any FBS team in the nation.
Yikes.
But who have the Eagles played?
Eastern Michigan’s four opponents heading into this weekend’s matchup have been Old Dominion University, University of Wyoming, Ball State University and Army.
If Eastern Michigan gave up nearly 1,500 rushing yards to those schools, they’re going to have a bad time against LSU. I know this because if LSU is good at one thing, it’s running the football.
LSU rushed for 315 yards per game, which is good enough for 7th in the nation. LSU has put up those numbers against two conference foes — Auburn University and Mississippi State University — and another Power Five school in Syracuse University.
The Tigers’ rushing offense faced a sterner test in each of the first three games than the one it’ll face this weekend.
Auburn and Mississippi State don’t have stellar run defenses, but they’re significantly better than Eastern Michigan’s. Syracuse is still ranked 19th in the nation in run defense after LSU rushed for 268 yards against it.
I’m expecting record-setting numbers from LSU’s ground game.
Sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, the man who lead in the race for the Heisman Trophy early in the season, is going to have a field day. He’s come dangerously close to breaking Alley Broussard’s single-game rushing record during LSU’s last two games.
I can’t imagine Fournette being in the game Saturday for too long, but I imagine he’ll come close to that record again. Who knows, he might only need a half to break it against the Eagles’ defense.
Unfortunately for Eastern Michigan, LSU’s rushing attack doesn’t stop with Fournette.
LSU boast three other capable backs in sophomore Darrel Williams and freshmen running backs Derrius Guice and Nick Brossette. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris is more than capable using his legs to beat teams as well.
Having an offensive line and fullbacks who will open up holes big enough for LSU’s team bus to drive through won’t help Eastern Michigan’s defense, either.
LSU rushed for 411 yards against Auburn. I genuinely believe LSU could dwarf that total on Saturday.
Get out the record book, people. Saturday’s game could be special.
Jack Woods is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.