The biggest advantage for each team in the Peach Bowl? Gene Chizik breaks down the keys for LSU and Oklahoma
Published:
No. 1 LSU may a heavy favorite in the upcoming College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup against No. 4 Oklahoma but that doesn’t mean the Sooners will be intimated going up against Ed Orgeron’s Tiger team.
Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma are the ones that have been in this position before, not LSU, and the Sooners have the elite coaching and talent to threaten the Tigers if all goes according to plan come Saturday night in Atlanta.
During a recent segment on SEC Network, former Auburn coach turned analyst Gene Chizik was asked to share his thoughts on the biggest advantage for each team heading into the 2019 Peach Bowl.
Here’s what Chizik offered up for LSU.
“There’s no question, it’s the wideouts,” Chizik explained. “When you are sitting there — look, you got a Heisman winner at quarterback, right? Who can deliver the ball to these guys. When you look at what Ja’Marr Chase has done, think about this Dari, every time he touches the ball, he averages a 20.8 yard gain. That’s unbelievable.
“Oh, let’s not forget about Justin Jefferson, he’s another guy that has over 1,000 yards on receptions. These guys are just so explosive, they do the best job in America, collectively as a group, adjusting to the ball. And you watch Oklahoma’s secondary, there’s been some games where they’ve given up huge chunks of yards.”
While the Tigers should have a big advantage when they have the ball, Chizik has identified one area that should concern Dave Aranda’s LSU defense.
When it comes to Oklahoma’s advantage in this matchup, the SEC Network pointed to Jalen Hurts and his ability to run the ball.
“I don’t think there’s any question, it’s the numbers they gain on you in the quarterback run game,” Chizik offered up. “You have to be really sound (defending them). We talked about it already, LSU has got to have an extra guy in the box, always. Whether he’s in the box or out of the box, someone’s always accounting for the quarterback run game because this is where they get you. They out scheme you and it’s not like they haven’t done it, they’ve done it to everybody and they’ve played 13 games.”
There you have it, based on these comments, if all goes according to plan for each offense, we could be treated to a track meet of a game come Saturday when LSU and Oklahoma meet in the 2019 Peach Bowl.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
