LSU Football: 5 bold predictions for 2019 Fiesta Bowl vs. UCF

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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 17: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers runs with the ball during the first half against the Rice Owls at Tiger Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. The LSU run game could easily be the nail in the coffin

Central Florida has done a lot of things well this season, or at least well enough to find themselves undefeated and playing in a New Year’s Six matchup. However, their run defense is abysmal to say the least and that is no bueno when you are playing against a Tiger team who thrives on running the ball both by running back and quarterback.

They aren’t an amazing running game by any stretch — this isn’t Leonard Fournette or Derrius Guice we’re talking about — but the Tigers get the job done.

For UCF, the Knights allowed 196 yards or more on the ground in each of the last five games, and gave up 220 or more seven times on the season. That won’t cut it against Joe Burrow and company for sure.

Of course, we all have to look at one of the biggest story lines of this game. The question over Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s playing status after he was involved in the shooting death of a man who he said was trying to rob him and a teammate. LSU has not yet commented on whether the team’s second leading rusher will be available for this game, but it is a story line to watch for sure.

Now, with or without Edwards-Helaire, I think that LSU has plenty of run game to put UCF away due to the Knights lack of defense against the run for sure. Once LSU gets that going, it may just be game over for the Golden Knights of UCF.

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