By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
No. 8 LSU is now 2-0 in the EA Sports College Football 27 world.
But only after the Tigers edged 32-point underdog Louisiana Tech, 17-6, in an ugly win, and that’s being nice.
Although that may be an unimaginable score for the real game on Saturday in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ESPN+, SEC Network+), remember that the CFB 27 Simulation was only a touchdown off last week with its 44-10 prediction of the Tigers’ 51-10 win over Clemson. Maybe Electronic Arts (EA) knows something “in the game” that the rest of the college football world does not.
In Tiger Rag’s simulation of the game, the Tigers took a step back from their domination of Clemson. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed just 17 of his 35 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. His leading receiver was again Ole Miss transfer Winnie Watkins, who hauled in four catches for 56 yards. He was followed closely by Hawaii transfer receiver Jackson Harris with 51 yards on four receptions.
The scoring opened with a 23-yard field goal from LSU’s Scott Starzyk at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter. Tech responded with a 44-yard field goal from Kaegan Kent to tie the score before the start of the second quarter. The first touchdown of the game was not until three minutes 26 seconds were left in the half. Junior running back Caden Durham darted 53 yards to retake the lead at 10-3.
Apparently, Tech will leave the 80 points it scored against Northwestern State last week at the same place LSU will leave its 51 – at home.
CFB 27 still has not updated the LSU running back rotation to reflect the depth chart, going back to last spring with transfer Dilin Jones as the top back, followed by transfer Stacy Gage. So that makes a lot suspect. CFB 27 still gives the opportunities to Durham and Harlem Berry. In their world, Durham rushed nine times for 134 yards, and Berry ran eight times for 61 yards. Jones had just two attempts for three yards.
An uneventful third quarter ended in a 43-yard Tech field goal. LSU scored the final points of the game on a 5-yard touchdown grab from tight end Trey’Dez Green with 11 minutes left in the game. Green finished with three catches for 25 yards and the score.
Neither team had a particularly impressive performance. Both gained 14 first downs and punted six times, a far cry from the record 38 times the Tigers moved the chains against Clemson. The Tigers’ offense outgained the Bulldogs 374 yards to 266, although Tech ran 11 more plays.
Tech quarterback Blake Baker finished 19-for-31 for 182 yards. His top receiver was tight end Eli Finley, whose 92 yards on seven catches was more than the rest of the team combined. LSU held Tech top receiver Jalen Mickens to two catches for 19 yards.
The close result is especially surprising considering that No. 8 LSU is actually the second-ranked team in CFB 27, although its 88-overall rating is tied for sixth. Tiger Stadium is also rated as the toughest place to play for opposing teams. Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, is tied for 98th with a 74-overall and a 72-rated defense.
Yet, 17-6? Really?
LSU Record vs. Simulated Games
Real Life: 1-0
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
EA Sports CFB 27: 2-0
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. Louisiana Tech
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