LSU vs. Mississippi State: Live Game Grades and Analysis for the Tigers

Final Score:

LSU 59, Mississippi State 26

The No. 10 LSU Tigers went into Davis Wade Stadium and lit up the Mississippi State Bulldogs. With dominant performances on the ground and in the air, LSU reminded everyone just how good they can be.

For a full box score, visit NCAA.com.  

Postgame Analysis:

Pass Offense: Zach Mettenberger had a quiet second half thanks to the success of the ground attack, but he finished the night completing 86 percent of his passes while throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Rush Offense: The LSU rushing attack was one of the deepest and most dominant ground games I have seen all season long. Jeremy Hill ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, Kenny Hilliard ran for 39 yards and three touchdowns and Alfred Blue had himself a touchdown for good measure.

Pass Defense: After a rocky first half, the LSU defense gathered themselves and shut down the both sides of the Mississippi State offense. Bulldogs quarterbacks threw for just 110 second-half yards.

Rush Defense: Although they gave up 216 yards and a touchdown on the ground, the majority of that (132 yards and the score) came in the first half.

Special Teams: LSU place-kicker Colby Delahoussaye had himself an evening, hitting all eight of his extra points and tacking on a field goal.

Coaching: While Les Miles had a rocky first half, burning his timeouts like cheap incense, his second half did not require much work thanks to outstanding play on both sides of the ball from his boys.

First-Half Analysis: 

Pass Offense: Zach Mettenberger picked up where he left off last week against Georgia, completing 80 percent of his passes and throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown. He did, however, throw a pass to the other team, which is something you would like to avoid.

Rush Offense: While Jeremy Hill had the big play on the ground for the Tigers in the first half, going 69 yards for a score, Kenny Hilliard did his thing, as well, carrying the ball three times for 39 yards and two scores. Overall, LSU averaged 6.8 yards a carry throughout the half.

Pass Defense: Things were going the Tigers’ way early, but their issues in the secondary opened up holes for Mississippi State. Bulldogs quarterbacks completed eight passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Rush Defense: The LSU front seven, not wanting to be left out, had struggles of their own throughout the first half. They allowed 15 Mississippi State carries to go for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Special Teams: Nothing too eventful happened on special teams in the first half, though LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye did hit on all four of his extra-point attempts. He’s also got a pretty sweet last name, don’t you think?

Coaching: Les Miles hasn’t done anything too crazy thus far, other than blow through two timeouts early in the first quarter. We will just chalk that up to Les being Les. 

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