Eric Canha-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
LSU steps out of conference one more time Saturday night.
Western Kentucky comes to town sporting an 8-2 overall record, 6-2 in Conference USA. Their season finale is at Jacksonville State who is unbeaten in league play. That game will have huge implications on who makes the CUSA title game.
Starting quarterback Maverick McIvor injured his shoulder in October and has not played in four weeks. The Hilltoppers have turned to backup Rodney Tisdale Jr. who threw for 371 and three touchdowns on Saturday. The Tigers better be ready to defend the pass.
A reminder that the smaller the ranking, the better the statistic.
Green: Top 25
Red: Bottom 50
OFFENSE
Scoring Offense: 46th, 31.3 points per game
Total Offense: 27th, 432.9 yards per game
Yards per play: 39th, 6.1 yards per play
Rushing Offense: 92nd, 136.8 yards per game
Yards per carry: 73rd, 4.3 yards per carry
Rushing Attempts per game: 107th, 32.1 attempts per game
Rushing Touchdowns: 64th, 16
Passing Offense: 11th, 296.1 yards per game
Passing Attempts: 8th, 38.9 attempts per game
Completion Percentage: 17th, 68.1%
Passing Touchdowns: 25th, 21
Interceptions Thrown: 67th, 8
First Downs: 30th, 22.5 per game
Third Down Conversions: 19th, 47.5%
Fourth Down Conversion attempts: 121st, 12
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 17th, 71.4%
20-plus yard plays: 16th, 57
10-plus yard runs: 79th, 45
20-plus yard passes: 4th, 47
Sacks Allowed: 37th, 1.5 per game
Tackles For Loss Allowed: 54th, 5 per game
Time of Possession: 69th, 30:00 per game
The Hilltoppers want to air it out. They do so efficiently and excel on third downs and in the red zone. The production hasn’t dipped with the quarterback change.
DEFENSE
Scoring Defense: 54th, 23.1 points per game
Total Defense: 97th, 399 yards per game
Yards per Play Allowed: 83rd, 5.7 yards per play
Run Defense: 110th, 175.7 yards per game
Yards per Carry Allowed: 128th, 5.1 yards per carry
Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 38th, 12
Passing Defense: 76th, 223.7 yards per game
Completion Percentage Allowed: 8th, 54.8%
Yards per Passing Attempt Allowed: 25th, 6.3 yards per attempt
Interceptions: 68th, 7
Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 9th, 8
Sacks: 124th, 1.2 per game
Tackles for Loss: 83rd, 5.2 per game
Third Down Defense: 52nd, 37%
Red Zone Touchdown Percentage Allowed: 4th, 37.8%
20-plus yard plays allowed: 108th, 51
10-plus yard runs allowed: 85th, 49
20-plus yard passes allowed: 69th, 30
How do you get to 8-2 with one of the worst run defenses in college football? Stop teams in the red zone, and Western Kentucky has done that. They give up big chunks on the ground but are able to keep teams out of the end zone.
The passing defense looks good on paper, but there isn’t much pass rush or havoc being created in the backfield.
More LSU Sports
