North Texas at LSU: This is a matchup between last season’s national runner up Louisiana State and a middle of the pack Sun Belt team in North Texas. Both teams finished the season on bad terms but it is much easier to hold your head up high when you are the 2nd best team in the country instead of conceding to another losing record in the Sun Belt.
Offense: The Louisiana State University Tigers were a mess on offense passing but ran the ball with authority throughout the 2011 season. The Tigers were ranked 22nd nationally in rushing offense in 2011 with 202 yards on the ground per game. LSU averaged 4.8 yards per carry on the season and found the end zone an impressive 35 times on the ground last fall. For all of the positives of a strong rushing attack last fall, LSU was horrible in the air throwing for 152 yards per game ranking the Tigers in the bottom 15 nationally. LSU was able to find the end zone 15 times with only 5 interceptions and were 17th in scoring offense with 35.7 points scored per game although that number was skewed due to the significant points scored by the defense and special teams. North Texas finished 2011 as the 96th ranked offense in the nation with 341 yards of total offense per game last fall. The Mean Green were unusually bad at running the ball with a 3.8 yards per carry average and only 152 yards per game on the ground. UNT found the end zone 19 times on the ground making up somewhat for the inability to run the ball when needed. The North Texas passing game threw for 189 yards per game and 14 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions on the season. The Mean Green turned the ball over a total of 17 times on the season. UNT finished 76th overall with 24.8 points per game scored. EDGE: LSU
Defense: LSU finished the 2011 season as the #2 ranked defense in the country giving up 261 yards per game to opponents. The Tigers held opponents to only 90 yards on the ground per game and a ridiculous 2.7 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns on the season. Teams passes for 171 yards per game versus a strong secondary but the LSU defense forced 18 interceptions with only 7 touchdown passes allowed on the year. The Tigers forced another 12 fumbles bumping the forced turnover number to 29 on the season. The Tigers gave up 11.3 points per game good for second nationally. North Texas struggled on defense in 2011 as well finishing the season as the nation’s 97th ranked defense giving up a total of 429 yards per game to opponents. The Mean Green rush defense was very generous giving up 4.7 yards per carry and 163 yards per game overall on the ground with 18 touchdowns allowed. Opponents were able to find their stride versus the porous secondary with 265 yards per game as well as 27 touchdowns passing and only 9 interceptions. The defense had one bright spot and that was causing turnovers. The Mean Green recovered 17 fumbles in addition to the 9 interceptions giving UNT 26 forced turnovers. UNT gave up 30.7 points per game on the season. EDGE: LSU
Coaching: Les Miles is the head coach of the LSU Tigers and is entering his 8th season as the head coach. Miles started coaching in 1980 with Michigan before going to Colorado, Michigan again, Oklahoma State, the Dallas Cowboys, and Oklahoma State again. After his second stint at Oklahoma State where he was the head coach (28-21), Miles took head job at LSU. During his tenure at LSU, Miles has gone 75-18 with 5 teams finishing in the top 10 nationally and 1 national championship. Dan McCarney is the head coach of the North Texas Mean Green and is entering his second year as head coach of the program. McCarney started coaching in 1977 at Iowa before moving to Wisconsin, Iowa State, South Florida, Florida and finally North Texas. McCarney was previously a head coach at Iowa State where he went 56-85 with a 2-3 record in bowl games and 1 top 25 finish nationally. In his only year as the head coach of North Texas, McCarney went 5-7. EDGE: LSU
LSU and North Texas have played 4 times in school history with LSU holding a 4-0 overall record versus the Mean Green. LSU has won by an average of 49.5-3.3 with the closest game being a 41-3 loss (38 points) in 2008.
This game has all the hallmarks of a huge blowout to start the season. LSU has traditionally beat up on North Texas and this year should see plenty of the same. Expect LSU to go up big in the second quarter and spend the second half getting playing time for younger players and trying out new things in live games. North Texas could surprise some and keep it close but this just does not seem like a very good matchup for anyone involved. LSU by 30+ points.
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