LSU vs MSU by the numbers....

[thekimmer]

I know, the only stats that matter are the final scores on Fri, Sat, Sun. but just for fun let's compare a few numbers.

Team ERA: LSU, 4.02 State 2.24
Team BA: LSU, .289 State .279
Op. ERA: LSU .232 State .176
Runs/g LSU 8.6 State 7.1
R allowed/g LSU 4.6 State 2.7


Takeaways: Obviously State has had better pitching and LSU better hitting. State has faced much stiffer competition so far with LSU playing 0 ranked teams and 13 of their 18 games against teams in RPI Q3-Q4 compared to State playing 3 ranked teams and only 6 teams in RPI Q3-Q4. LSU does have the home field advantage which hopefully will be muted a bit by restricted attendance. Also, this will be State's first true road games of the season with the 4 games played away from DNF at neutral sites.

The one thing I am a bit nervous about is our response to facing a hostile environment for the first time.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

I think we win 2 of 3 pretty handily and wouldn’t surprise me to see us sweep.

 

[thekimmer]

I think we win 2 of 3 pretty handily and wouldn’t surprise me to see us sweep.

I think we should but we have struggled mightily against the corndogs lately even with better teams.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

Yep. LSU has a history of owning us in baseball. Rarely do even our best teams win 2 of 3 against them.

 

[wsjmsu75]

About 8 years ago, I was wondering if I would live long enough to ever see us beat them in football again. Now, I have seen it 3 times since then. And, I think we will be fine in baseball this weekend.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

More fun stats

LSU leads the country in home runs, but has a modest batting average. We have the highest K/game in the country, backed up by one of the best ERAs. Most offensive stats are in the same ballpark, but our pitching has a huge advantage.

Statistically, I should be pretty confident.

Honestly? You know the history.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

You wouldn’t be surprised if we swept LSU in Baton Rogue? When is the last time that has happened?

 

[MS-halfstep]

I've seen this movie before and the ending is not kind to the dawgs. It's setup perfectly for a classic letdown and ensuing board meltdown. I predict we lose Fri & Sat, but sneak one out on Sunday.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Xenomorph]

As long as their pitching isn't better than Eastern Michigan's we'll be fine. **

 

[57stratdawg]

Even if we do drop two, it's not the end of the world. If LSU wants to be a national seed, or in contention for the SEC regular season title, there is more pressure on them this weekend than us.

 

[thekimmer]

I've seen this movie before and the ending is not kind to the dawgs. It's setup perfectly for a classic letdown and ensuing board meltdown. I predict we lose Fri & Sat, but sneak one out on Sunday.

I hope I'm wrong.

We just can't get intimidated by the name on the front of the jersey. If everything was exactly the same except the team was named Kentucky, Georgia, or even Florida I think we'd be pretty darn confident going into the series. But because it's LSU we're not. We gotta change that way of thinking.

BTW, I took a peek at the tiger turds board and to a man they all think they will take the series with a few predicting a sweep. I know it doesn't matter what fans think so I hope our players go into the series believing they will win it.

 

[Phil Wenneck.sixpack]

No expert on their team but I'm confident they haven't seen 10 or more guys that

can hit at least 94 on the gun and in the zone. (Ok maybe not Cerantola) but the point stands. Get some timely 2 out hitting and we'll take 2 at least. But I'd put money on 2 out of 3.

 

[WrapItDog]

As long as their pitching isn't better than Eastern Michigan's we'll be fine. **

I have watched a few LSU games. The Fri & Sat starting pitchers are legit and the rest are mediocre to bad so far this season. E Mich may have a better bullpen.

 

[thekimmer]

As long as their pitching isn't better than Eastern Michigan's we'll be fine. **

Not sure what it will be because LSU's pitching has been kind of Jekyl and Hyde but in the last three games they have given up 9, 12, and 7 runs against a Quad 3 and Quad 2 team. Not to mention the 22 they gave up to mighty ORU.

 

[thekimmer]

You wouldn’t be surprised if we swept LSU in Baton Rogue? When is the last time that has happened?

True but when is the last time we've come in there ranked #2 with them unranked in some polls.

 

[thekimmer]

Even if we do drop two, it's not the end of the world. If LSU wants to be a national seed, or in contention for the SEC regular season title, there is more pressure on them this weekend than us.

This is true as it is true that winning the series does not mean we have it made. Still need to win it though.

 

[thekimmer]

I have watched a few LSU games. The Fri & Sat starting pitchers are legit and the rest are mediocre to bad so far this season. E Mich may have a better bullpen.

Which means we need to get the pitch count up as soon as possible because if it becomes a bullpen game and its anywhere close I feel pretty good about our chances.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

LSU's bullpen is one of their biggest weaknesses

 

[The Usual Suspect]

I am friends with an LSU fan and he says their relief pitching is suspect.

 

[MSUDC11]

I think we win Friday and Sunday, Marceaux on Saturday really worries me given that we have this trend of getting totally shut down at the plate once a weekend.

I think we are the better team, but I’d be more surprised if we swept than if LSU won the series.

 

[MS-halfstep]

Even if we do drop two, it's not the end of the world. If LSU wants to be a national seed, or in contention for the SEC regular season title, there is more pressure on them this weekend than us.

Oh I agree, we can still have a great season even if we drop the series. It's the first SEC series for petes sake. I'm just saying it's setting up for a typical letdown as we usually play poorly down there. Heck you got folks on here are already booking hotel rooms in Omaha.

Like I said, I hope I'm wrong

 

[ezsoil]

LSU's bullpen is one of their biggest weaknesses

problem is our lineup does not take pitches...while aggressive hitting is usually good... just understand by doing that, opposing starting pitchers are able to get to the sixth or seventh inning with low pitch counts.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

We must crush our enemies and see them driven before us

 

[wsjmsu75]

^^^^ What he said ^^^^