2016 Citrus Bowl: LSU Tigers vs Louisville Cardinals

Time: 11:00 a.m. ET

TV: ABC

Odds: LSU is favored to win by three points, per OddsShark. The over/under is set at 59 or 59.5 depending on where you look.

The Citrus Bowl is arguably one of the most anticipated bowl games this year, as the LSU Tigers take on the Louisville Cardinals.

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is looking to add on to his 51 total touchdowns (30 passing, 21 rushing) on the season. Jackson has given defenses hell this season with his feet (234 carries for 1,538 rushing yards) and with his arm (3,390 passing yards). But Jackson isn’t all Louisville has. Most of the hype is about the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, but what about the rest of the weapons on offense?

Wide receiver James Quick, tight end Cole Hikuitini and receiver Jaylen Smith all have made major contributions to Louisville offense and has helped Jackson shine.

LSU’s defense will have their work cut out for them, but I think they are more than ready to take on the challenge. With All-American cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jamal Adams, LSU will make sure that Jackson is more one-dimensional than the two-dimensional player that he has been by limiting his passing abilities and making him run. LSU will, however, be without their star linebacker Kendell Beckwith due to a knee injury.

Louisville’s defense has no fear as well. They are nearly as good as LSU. Is that hard to believe?

The Louisville defense allowed 316.3 yards per game this season (12th in the country.). Most of the yards for the Tigers will come from the running game, specifically Derrius Guice, who is strong, fast and breaks tackles with ease. Guice has been LSU’s primary back for most of the season because of Leornard Fournette’s ankle injury. Fournette will be sitting out the Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, but Guice is more than capable. He set a school record on Thanksgiving against Texas A&M with 285 yards on 37 carries.

In order for LSU to win, their defense has to be great Guice has to be unstoppable. Is it possible? Yes. Is it enough? That is the question to be answered.

Score Prediction: Louisville 34, LSU 31