The Bengal Tiger Podcast: UCLA vs. LSU predictions, "Game Ball" candidates and more
The Bengal Tiger staff’s weekly Preview and Predictions are in for Week 4’s home matchup with UCLA, a game that has the Tigers favored by more than three touchdowns against the Bruins.
LSU is coming off a 36-33 road win at South Carolina to open Southeastern Conference play at 1-0. On the other side of the country, UCLA fell flat at home in the program’s first Big 10 game, losing to Indiana 42-13 a week after squeaking out a 16-13 win against Hawaii.
On this week’s “Preview and Predictions” podcast, The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon and Matthew Brune break down the matchup, take a glimpse into a UCLA team that has struggled mightily on offense, offer up “MVP” candidates on both offense and defense, and share their final score predictions.
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The LSU Injury Report vs. UCLA
LSU has two season-ending injuries this year and a handful of players who have been battling some injuries in recent weeks. Against South Carolina, the Tigers were without safety Jordan Allen, wide receiver Chris Hilton, linebacker West Weeks, and defensive end Dashawn Womack.
This week, LSU returns home to face UCLA on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. CT in a non-conference game and head coach Brian Kelly has provided an update on the players on the injury report at this point.
WR Chris Hilton – Probable (Bone bruise)
DT Jalen Lee – Out (Shoulder)
LB West Weeks – Questionable
The assumption is that Womack and Allen will be cleared and good to go this week as the Tigers take on the Bruins, but the big news is the potential return of Hilton after missing the first three games of the season.
In fall camp Hilton was a starting receiver and someone LSU was hoping to rely on with his speed this season. Instead, the Tigers have struggled to be as explosive as they’ve hoped early this year, despite an efficient passing game.
“He’s been in the program three years so he adds experience, he knows the offense really well,” Kelly said. “It’s easy to talk about speed and he certainly has it, but what emerged late in the season was tracking the ball down the field. That’s an element we’re hopeful we start to see more of, although we did a much better job against South Carolina pushing the ball down the field. You can’t be out for a month and then show up and start tearing it up. It takes a while for him and I hope everyone’s expectations where he can’t come in and just pick up where he left off. It’s going to take a few weeks to get him back to where he was, but he’s going to help us. He’s going to be a main player in what we do before the season is over.”
Hilton’s speed is a welcome addition to the Tigers’ receiver room, but throughout his career, injuries have kept the Zachary product on the sidelines more often than not. Last year was a revelation when he played all but two games, but this year he’s already been limited in his fourth season at LSU.
The passing game continues to thrive with Garrett Nussmeier as the quarterback, as Nussmeier has passed for 895 yards and 10 touchdowns on 69.8 percent passing. Considering LSU has two non-conference games before Ole Miss comes to Baton Rouge on Oct. 12, there’s time for Hilton to get back in the swing of things and contribute when it matters most.
