LSU Vs. West Virginia: 2011 College Football TV Time & Predictions

The 2011 college football game between the LSU Tigers and West Virginia Mountaineers is set for Saturday, September 24 (8 PM EST) at Mountaineer Field. This is a match-up of two ranked teams. ABC will provide TV coverage for this game. This article offers predictions for the 2011 college football game between LSU and West Virginia.

The Tigers and Mountaineers come into this contest in terrific form. Both teams are currently undefeated for the season, each winning its first three games. LSU and West Virginia have only met once in the last nine years; the Tigers narrowly won that contest 20-14. The 25th-ranked Mountaineers will be the third ranked team faced by LSU this season. West Virginia has not yet played a ranked team.

The showdown between LSU and West Virginia is a match-up of superior defense against explosive offense. The second-ranked Tigers have allowed an average of less than 13 points a game in their three wins. Most impressively, LSU has managed to achieve this against high-scoring teams like Oregon and Mississippi State. In contrast, West Virginia has outscored its opponents by an average of 23 points a game. The Mountaineers have been especially impressive in the passing game with starting QB Geno Smith throwing for over 1000 yards.

In a match-up like the one between LSU and West Virginia, the defensive-minded team tends to have an advantage as victory never seems out of reach. On the other hand, there is too much pressure on the offensive team to put points on the board. An early interception or untimely fumble is all defensive-minded LSU needs to disrupt the Mountaineers' offense and takes control of the game. This is exactly what the Tigers did in their victories over high-scoring Oregon and Mississippi State. Expect something similar in this contest.

My prediction - LSU defeats West Virginia 21-13; Geno Smith will not throw a TD. This game will be shown live on ABC at 8 PM EST.

Reference: ESPN.COM