LSU meets Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl

Records: Notre Dame (9-3); LSU (9-3)

Time: 1:00 pm ET

TV: ABC

Stream: WatchESPN app

Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network 98.1 (Baton Rouge)

Odds: LSU (-3)

When asked in a press conference Sunday morning about how to stop the opposing team in Monday’s Citrus Bowl, Notre Dame and LSU head coaches Brian Kelly and Ed Orgeron both agreed with these three words.

“Stop the run.”

The Tigers are looking to repeat a win at the Citrus Bowl but against a tougher team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. LSU claimed victory over Louisville last year in the Citrus Bowl, 29-9.

This will be the 12th meeting between the two schools. It will be the first since the Fighting Irish beat the Tigers 31-28 in the Music City Bowl in 2014.

Notre Dame has may have a bit of distraction going into the game with some off-the-field issues which resulted in three of their top four pass catchers and two of their top backup running backs being suspended for the game.

However, this game will still be an all out brawl as two heavyweight running backs in Notre Dame’s Josh Adams and LSU Derrius Guice look to run through the opposing defenses to victory.

Yes, running back Derrius Guice will play in his last college game as he will enter the NFL Draft this year. Coach Ed Orgeron praised Guice for playing in the bowl game, as he strongly disagrees with players skipping bowl games to “avoid injury” and lowering their stock in the NFL Draft.

LSU will be without a few of their key players and one will be first-round NFL draft prospect, Arden Key. The defensive end has been dealing with a knee injury that he suffered in early November. Another will be kickoff specialist Cameron Gamble who is ineligible for the game. A definite decision has yet to be made on whether kickers Connor Culp or Jack Gonsoulin would take over the duties.

LSU will gain one of their key players, Left tackle KJ Malone, who could be in the starting lineup for the first time since mid-October.

With key players missing from the lineup of Notre Dame and a strong defense of LSU, this will be another tight battle between the two schools. I look for the Tigers to take the Citrus Bowl trophy again this year by a close margin.

PREDICTION: 31-28, LSU