By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
Here is an inside look at the Clemson-LSU series as the 13th-ranked Clemson Tigers play No. 7 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The game will be televised by ESPN at 7:30 p.m.
About the LSU Tigers: LSU makes its 13th straight bowl appearance and its sixth in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. LSU is 5-0 all-time in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. LSU is making its 44th all-time bowl appearance (8th nationally) and the Tigers are 22-20-1 in those games. The 22 bowl victories tie for the ninth nationally.
The LSU offense: LSU running backs have carried the football 259 times without a lost fumble, a streak that dates back to third quarter of Week 5. Quarterback Zach Metter threw for 2,489 yards in his first season as a starter and he has a chance to become just the second LSU quarterback in history to begin his career with an 11-win season.
The LSU defense: The Tigers have held every team it has faced this year below their rushing average. LSU is ranked among the top 10 defenses in five different categories and ranks eighth nationally in total defense, allowing only 292.2 yards per game. LSU also ranks 9th in pass eff. defense, 9th in rush defense, 8th in turnovers gained and 10th in interceptions.
The LSU Special Teams: LSU punter Brad Wing (44.8 yards) has been suspended. LSU’s ability to play field position had a lot to do with Wing’s talent at pinning teams deep in their own end of the field. LSU is solid in kickoff and punt returns thanks to returners Michael Ford (25.4) and Odell Beckham (9.7 and 2 TDs).
Records: Clemson 10-2; LSU 10-2
Series record: LSU leads 2-0
Last meeting: 1996 Peach Bowl: LSU 10, Clemson 7
First meeting: 1959 Sugar Bowl: LSU 7, Clemson 0
Stat worth noting: Since the 2009 season, LSU is 39-2 when scoring 20 or more points with the only losses coming to Ole Miss (25-23 in ’09) and Arkansas (31-23 in ’10).
Second stat worth noting: Clemson needs 25 points to set the ACC record for points in a season. Florida State had 532 in 1995. Florida State needs just 14 points in the Orange Bowl to break this record as well.
Third stat worth noting: Clemson needs 369 yards to set the ACC record for total yards in a season. Clemson has 6,220 yards. The record is 6,588 by the 2000 Florida State team.
Memorable game: (The 1959 Sugar Bowl) Top-ranked LSU beat Clemson, 8-2 at the time, 7-0 to win the 1959 Sugar Bowl. A botch snap on a punt set up the game’s only score when longer snapper Paul Snyder hit the up-man, Doug Cline, in the leg. LSU recovered the loose football at the Clemson 11. On fourth down, All-American Billy Cannon hit tight end Mickey Mangham in the corner of the end zone for the only score of the night.