WHY
QBs: Matt Flynn has been at LSU for five full seasons now, one as a redshirt and three studying the offense as a backup. True, he lost two starts this season, but he played through injuries that included a sprained ankle and bruised throwing shoulder, to pass for 2,223 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ryan Perrilloux, who led LSU to a win in the SEC title game, gives the Tigers a change-of-pace option threat that will keep the Buckeyes guessing.
RBs: If they’re lucky, most teams have two effective running backs. LSU has five: Jacob Hester, Keiland Williams, Charles Scott, Richard Murphy and the small but incredibly fast Trindon Holliday. Hester is the man with over 1,017 yards and 11 TDs.
WRs: This group needed experience and got it when Early Doucet went out with a groin injury early in the season. Junior college transfer Demetrius Byrd developed into a legitimate big-play threat, as he showed in LSU’s comeback against Alabama and with his game-winning catch against Auburn. Meanwhile, Doucet is back and healthy.
Line: Junior center Brett Helms (6-2, 270) leads an experienced and powerful offensive front that includes Herman Johnson (6-7, 351), Carnell Stewart (6-5, 320) Ciron Black (6-5, 320) and Lyle Hitt (6-2, 299).
Offensive summary: LSU is very balanced and very deep. When the Tigers are on, it’s a busy night for the scoreboard operator.
Secondary: Very experienced and very good. Senior cornerbacks Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon can handle man-to-man coverage, while senior safety Craig Steltz has a nose for the ball and comes up in the running game to deliver pad-cracking hits.
Linebackers: Senior Ali Highsmith was a second-team All-American and a Butkus Award semifinalist. Junior Darry Beckwith has been in on more than 130 tackles in the past two seasons.
Line: Despite missing parts of games this season because of injuries, Glenn Dorsey was a first-team All-American and he won the Outland, Lombardi, Lott and Nagurski trophies. Is there any need to say more?
Defensive summary: When they were healthy early in the season, the Tigers knocked starting quarterbacks out of the game in each of their first five contests. They’ll make it a long night for OSU quarterback Todd Boeckman.
Special teams: Holliday returns kickoffs, with speed – he was second in the NCAA 100 meters, which he has run in an LSU record 10.02 seconds – to go the distance if he gets daylight.
Coach: Les Miles is known as a gambler because he runs fake field goals and likes to go for it on fourth down, but he picks his spots and has the athletes and senior leadership to execute.
Intangibles: This is the Tigers’ fourth bowl game this decade in the Louisiana Superdome – a 90-minute drive from the LSU campus – and they have won the previous three.
Bottom line: By trouncing Ohio State in last season’s title game, Florida showed the SEC holds key speed and talent advantages over the Big 10. Ohio State is 0-8 against SEC teams in bowl games. LSU will continue that tradition.
Brett Martel, Associated Press