*CFB(1u): Kansas State -7(-120) vs LSU–8 PM CT
LSU’s roster has been completely purged amidst their coaching change; the Tigers will have right around 40 scholarship players for this game tonight. The Tigers are hurting most at the QB position after starting QB Max Johnson transferred to Texas A&M; backup Myles Brennan will return next season but won’t be available for this game, and freshman Garrett Nussmier is sitting out in order to preserve his redshirt. That leaves the Tigers with 0 scholarship QB’s for this game. In all likelihood, they will choose to play a WR at quarterback and keep the ball on the ground throughout this game. Of note, however, leading RB Tyrion Davis-Price(1004 yards this season) has also opted out. The major takeaway from all of this is that this will look much more like the LSU scout team than the team we saw throughout much of the regular season, and even then, this was just a 6-6 LSU team. Kansas State, on the other hand, had nobody opt out for this game and will also welcome back QB Skylar Thompson from injury to compete in his last college game. Thompson is extremely valuable to this Wildcat offense given his experience as a 4 year starter, but he’s also capable of taking advantage of an undermanned LSU defense(69% completion, 9 Y/A this season). Kansas State also has a special RB in Deuce Vaughn; the sophomore racked up 1246 yards at almost 6 YPC this season and is a total difference maker in the run game, pass game, and on special teams. One team clearly cares a whole lot more about this game, and it helps that they also proved to be quite good when healthy this season. I’ve got no problem laying the 7 with K-State against what is going to be an unrecognizable LSU squad tonight.
