Two of the biggest brands in the college football duel in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. Both need this one badly.
The long offseason is over, and the game has been discussed ad nauseum. Time to strap on the helmets. Time to strike up the band. Time to make predictions.
That’s what our 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge staff has done.
MATT FLYNN, CO-HOST, OFF THE BENCH: LSU 37, Clemson 17. Clemson returns a few guys on defense. Great job, Dabo. It’s not going to matter. LSU will operate FAST! They will be in better shape, and they will overwhelm Clemson’s defense with the speed in which they operate. It won’t be perfect and mistakes will be made, but when the dust settles on Saturday night, LSU will have 20 more points than Clemson.
JACOB HESTER, CO-HOST OFF THE BENCH: I think Clemson hangs around early, but eventually the environment, LSU’s speed and the pressure on a quarterback making his second career start become too much. LSU pulls away in the second half and Lane Kiffin starts the Baton Rouge era 1-0. 31-17, LSU.
MATT MOSCONA, HOST, AFTER REVIEW: I think LSU’s pace, tempo, efficiency, all of that does ultimately to outpace Clemson. Maybe it’s a late LSU score that separates things, but it’s 31-13 LSU. Clemson can’t score enough.
CHARLES HANAGRIFF, CO-HOST, LIVE AT LUNCH: Game? There’s a game? 31-20 for the Home Tigers.
HUNT PALMER, HOST, HUNT PALMER SHOW: Clemson is in trouble. This Blake Baker defense and that crowd are going to be a nightmare for Christopher Vizzina. Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis always produce offense. LSU early. LSU late. 37-13 Tigers.
ALONDRA VILLARREAL, AUDIO PRODUCER, OFF THE BENCH: There’s a lot of new on both sides, but I think LSU’s “new” is more talented than Clemson’s. It’s Saturday night in the real Death Valley. It’s a Lane Kiffin offense and a Blake Baker defense, and I think the lights will be too bright for Dabo. LSU pressures Christopher Vizzina, forces a couple of mistakes, and Sam Leavitt and this offense eventually pull away. LSU 34, Clemson 14
TAYLOR SHARP, VIDEO PRODUCER, OFF THE BENCH: I think Lane Kiffin makes a statement in his first game at the helm. The Tigers should have a lot more weapons than Clemson on the outside and overall the defense matches up well with Clemson’s attack. I take the good Tigers, 38-13.
MATTHEW MUSSO, AUDIO PRODUCER, AFTER FURTHER REVIEW: Two fighters feel each other out early with the action picking up in the second half. I think Dabo’s offense struggles with a QB making his second start, and it is coming in a Tiger Stadium that will be charged to the max. Add in Blake Baker’s defense, and that has all the makings of a rough night. The matchup is Tom Allen’s defense vs. the Lane Kiffin offense. I like the college football experience that the Tigers have around Sam Leavitt to make their share of big plays but also control the tempo. They pull away, and Tiger Nation parties into the night! LSU 34, Clemson 17.
PAUL O’NEILL, VIDEO PRODUCER, AFTER FURTHER REVIEW: The Lane Kiffin era is officially underway! Tiger Stadium will be rocking, and the atmosphere will be electric on Saturday night. The Lane Kiffin impact will give juice to an offense that struggled a year ago while the defense will continue to improve under Blake Baker. The Tigers will still have to work out a few kinks with so much roster turnover, but they should be able to take advantage of a QB making his first true road start in a raucous environment. LSU wins 28-17
JORDAN KITCHENS, AUDIO PRODUCER, HUNT PALMER SHOW: 31-10, LSU. Home Tigers roll. Death Valley is on fire with 100,000+ rattling a first-time starting quarterback. LSU starts fast and never slows down.
