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Upset Alert: LSU in dogfight with Syracuse at Halftime

By Christopher Logue

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Syracuse is giving LSU all they can handle and have the Tigers on upset alert.

Syracuse is showing plenty of poise in this game against the much more talented Tigers of LSU. It all starts with the previously fifth placed quarterback on the Syracuse depth chart in Zack Mahoney who was earnestly ushered into the starting role through injuries to Terrel Hunt and Eric Dungey.

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Yes, Mahoney has not been fantastic on the stat sheet, only 5-13 passing for 35 yards as he is struggling to find his receivers, but he isn’t turning the ball over to the Tigers and giving them extra possessions either. If he can settle down, he could get the Tigers on their heels to begin the second half.

The special teams as been the main victor to this point for Syracuse. Brisly Estime is averaging a combined 26.5 yards per return in kick and punt returns and has put the Orange in fantastic field possession each time he touches the ball. Their punter, Riley Dixon, has been a bright spot, too. He has constantly pinned the Tigers into difficult parts of the field, averaging 47 yards per punt.

The Syracuse defense has made it very tough on the LSU offense, despite a few splash plays and an unreal play by Tigers running back Leonard Fournette. They have pressured Brandon Harris and rushed him out of his comfort zone, holding him to just 45 yards passing after the half.

You can’t expect Syracuse to stop Fournette as he has 117 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, but only loosely contain him. If they can force the LSU offense into longer t0-go situations, they stand a real chance to upset the Tigers by making Harris throw as opposed to hand off to Fournette.

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