Defensive line
West Virginia's defensive line has been relatively solid. Julian Miller, Jorge Wright, Bruce Irvin and Will Clarke have the Mountaineers 45th nationally against the rush, allowing but 116 yards. The problem is, LSU's four-man front, led by ends Sam Montgomery and Kendrick Adams, has been fantastic. The Tigers are third nationally against the run, allowing 47.7 yards.
EDGE: Tigers
Linebackers
LSU lost linebacker Joshua Johns in the same bar-fight incident as QB Jordan Jefferson. Ryan Baker, a Bednarik and Butkus awards candidate, and company have played well enough that the Tigers are sixth nationally in total defense. WVU's Najee Goode, however, might be the best linebacker in the game. He has 23 tackles. The senior could just use a little more support.
EDGE: Tigers
Secondary
WVU received a little pick-me-up via safeties Darwin Cook, Terence Garvin and Eain Smith. They all had interceptions against Maryland. But LSU star Morris Claiborne, a cornerback, is heading a more effective bunch. The LSU secondary is 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense, while West Virginia's unit is 36th.
EDGE: Tigers
Special teams
WVU wins this easily. Mountaineer return man Tavon Austin is fourth nationally in punt returns (22-yard average) and 16th nationally in kickoff returns (29.4). LSU kicker Drew Alleman is 10th nationally in field goals (6-of-7), but WVU's Tyler Bitancurt is sixth (7-of-8). LSU has been better at net punting, punt return defense and kickoff defense.
EDGE: Mountaineers
Quarterback
LSU's Jarrett Lee, a 6-foot-2, 206-pound senior, is a coach's son who hasn't been asked to pass much since taking over for suspended Jordan Jefferson. Lee has been effective, completing 67.8 percent of his passes. But he's thrown just 59 times. WVU's Geno Smith, meanwhile, has connected on 69.5 percent of his passes on 82-of-118 passing with seven touchdowns and just one interception.
EDGE: Mountaineers
Running backs
WVU hopes its freshmen backs resemble those of LSU in a year. The Tigers are led by sophomores Spencer Ware, 5-11, 223 pounds, and Michael Ford, 5-10, 215 pounds, who have 226 and 218 yards, respectively. The Mountaineers have been led by freshmen Vernard Roberts, 112 yards, and Andrew Buie, 88. Shawne Alston returned from injury last week to chip in 20.
EDGE: Tigers
Wide receivers
LSU's top two receivers this season have been Odell Beckman (who grew up in a track family) and Rueben Randle, aka the "Big Reubeno." The corps will add Russell Shepard, who has been suspended, for this game. Shepard is one of the Tigers' best. Overall, though, WVU might have a better group in Tavon Austin, Ivan McCartney, Stedman Bailey and Devon Brown.
EDGE: Mountaineers
Offensive line
Even against comparatively inferior competition, WVU's line, led by tackles Don Barclay and Pat Eger, doesn't stack up to that of LSU. The Tigers, led by 6-6, 340-pound tackle Alex Hurst, are both big and experienced. (Hurst, by the way, is nicknamed "Clyde" -- as in Clydesdale.) LSU's line is pushing for more rushing yards (166-78.7) and has allowed fewer sacks (3-4).
EDGE: Tigers
Defensive line
West Virginia's defensive line has been relatively solid. Julian Miller, Jorge Wright, Bruce Irvin and Will Clarke have the Mountaineers 45th nationally against the rush, allowing but 116 yards. The problem is, LSU's four-man front, led by ends Sam Montgomery and Kendrick Adams, has been fantastic. The Tigers are third nationally against the run, allowing 47.7 yards.
EDGE: Tigers
Linebackers
LSU lost linebacker Joshua Johns in the same bar-fight incident as QB Jordan Jefferson. Ryan Baker, a Bednarik and Butkus awards candidate, and company have played well enough that the Tigers are sixth nationally in total defense. WVU's Najee Goode, however, might be the best linebacker in the game. He has 23 tackles. The senior could just use a little more support.
EDGE: Tigers
Secondary
WVU received a little pick-me-up via safeties Darwin Cook, Terence Garvin and Eain Smith. They all had interceptions against Maryland. But LSU star Morris Claiborne, a cornerback, is heading a more effective bunch. The LSU secondary is 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense, while West Virginia's unit is 36th.
EDGE: Tigers
Special teams
WVU wins this easily. Mountaineer return man Tavon Austin is fourth nationally in punt returns (22-yard average) and 16th nationally in kickoff returns (29.4). LSU kicker Drew Alleman is 10th nationally in field goals (6-of-7), but WVU's Tyler Bitancurt is sixth (7-of-8). LSU has been better at net punting, punt return defense and kickoff defense.
EDGE: Mountaineers
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