Preview and Predictions: LSU Tigers vs. South Alabama Jaguars in Week 5

Brian Kelly and Co. look to capture their fourth straight victory, head into SEC play riding a winning streak.

Brian Kelly and the No. 14 ranked LSU Tigers will wrap up non-conference play on Saturday night when the South Alabama Jaguars arrive in Baton Rouge for a Week 5 matchup.

Kelly and Co. will look to capture their fourth consecutive victory over a fiery Sun Belt foe in Death Valley this weekend.

Here's a look into the game information, final injury report, keys to the game and a score prediction for Week 5 in Tiger Stadium:

LSU vs. South Alabama Game Information

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Time: 6:45 p.m. CT
TV Channel: SEC Network
City: Baton Rouge, La.
Venue: Tiger Stadium

The LSU Injury Report: Week 5 Edition

CB Zy Alexander: Concussion

LSU cornerback Zy Alexander suffered a concussion in Week 4 against the UCLA Bruins after exiting in the first half.

Now, he's questionable heading into Week 5 against South Alabama as he continues working through concussion protocols, Kelly said on Thursday.

The veteran defensive back has battled the injury bug this season with another hurdle left to be jumped before kickoff on Saturday night.

If Alexander is unable to go this weekend, LSU will continue the rotation of Ashton Stamps, JK Johnson and PJ Woodland against the Jaguars.

WR Chris Hilton: Ankle

LSU wide receiver CHris Hilton was expected to make his season debut last weekend against the UCLA Bruins, but didn't see the field in Week 4.

After suffering an ankle injury in August, Hilton has been sidelined, but continues trending in the right direction. He warmed up and went through pregame last weekend prior to the UCLA game for the first time all season.

Now, he's listed as "probable" once again heading into Saturday against the South Alabama Jaguars.

"We’re bringing him back from a long layoff, so we’ll see what he looks like when he gets out there on Saturday,” Kelly said.

LSU has rolled with a receiver rotation of Kyren Lacy, Kyle Parker, CJ Daniels, Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas so far this season.

Once Hilton gets back in the mix, it will provide LSU signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier with another receiver that can unlock the vertical passing game on offense.

The Keys to the Game: LSU vs. South Alabama

No. 1: Limit Explosive Plays from South Alabama

LSU has given up several explosive plays this season against inferior opponents. On Saturday' they'll face a South Alabama squad that lives and dies by them in the run-game.

South Alabama lead back Fluff Bothwell has become a notable name in the Sun Belt Conference over the first few weeks as he continues impressing for the Jaguars. The true freshman is already up to 359 yards rushing on 37 carries with six touchdowns through four games.

The main number to know for Bothwell: 9.7. He's averaging a whopping 9.7 yards per carry for South Alabama this season and has become the focal point for the program on offense.

But it'll be a one-two punch of running backs for the Jaguars on Saturday with Bothwell joined by Kentrel Bullock in the backfield. On just 30 carries, Bullock is up to 203 yards rushing with three scores of his own.

There's significant push with the South Alabama offensive line with Bullock averaging 6.3 yards per touch as well.

On Saturday, the LSU defensive line must rise to the occasion against an offense that likes to run the football more than 50% of the time with a pair of running backs ready to make noise.

No. 2: Get Off to a Hot Start in Death Valley

Brian Kelly and Co. have notoriously come out sluggish in big games over the last few years, and despite being heavy favorites on Saturday, it's imperative the program comes out clicking early.

We've seen the Tigers come out flat this season in all four games. From trailing early to USC to going down 17-0 early in the second quarter against South Carolina, LSU hasn't impressed in the first half against opponents this season.

The Bayou Bengals are 21.5-point favorites with Las Vegas holding high expectations for the program, but they'll be facing a South Alabama squad that has the chance to make a statement in a big-time game,

Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU offense must come out firing early in order to ignite the team in what's expected to be a rowdy atmosphere in a Tiger Stadium night game.

No. 3: Diversify the Playbook, Capitalize on Red Zone Opportunities

The glaring takeaway in Week 3 against South Carolina was the missed opportunities in the red zone for the Bayou Bengals. It was the defense who handled business in the second half after presenting scoring chances for the offense, but inefficiency plagued the unit.

It’s been a thorn in the program’s side throughout the first few weeks of the season. LSU has simply been unable to convert inside the red zone, but now facing an inferior opponent, it gives them an opportunity to test the waters from inside the 20-yard line.

Look for different run schemes to open up chunk yards for the Tigers this weekend. LSU must have the rushing attack play a complementary role for the Tigers' offense. It's clear the passing game led by Nussmeier is efficient, but complete football must be played on Saturday in a "tune-up" game

The Week 5 Prediction: LSU 41, South Alabama 24

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are aware of the talent the Jaguars attain this season. A program that has a fiery offensive duo in signal-caller Gio Lopez paired with running back Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama can put points on the board in a hurry.

“South Alabama is a good football team and our players are aware of that,” Kelly said. “We’ve seen how exciting their offense is. They put up a lot of points against Appalachian State, last year they beat Oklahoma State at home, so our team has a great deal of respect for South Alabama.”

For LSU, the athletes on the defensive line should give the rushing attack fits at times. There remains concern in the secondary where Gio Lopez could look to exploit the Tigers' defensive backs, but LSU's talent will be on display here with SEC athletes ready to shine against an inferior foe.

Look for Garrett Nussmeier to continue his success this season and carve the Jaguars' defense on Saturday night in Death Valley with the Tigers claiming another double-digit victory heading into SEC play.

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