LSU vs. Wisconsin Week #1 Preview and Prediction
By Jarred Smith
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
How will the QB’s play?
Let’s start with the obvious: Brandon Harris is the biggest question mark for LSU.
Can Harris make enough plays on offense to let the defense play fast and loose? We all saw what happened last season, which was that Harris started out on a hot streak and cooled off dramatically when the season was on the line.
Coincidentally, it was discovered that Harris had suffered a sports hernia about the same time that the decline started to happen. No making excuses, but it could have been a factor.
Something else of note: Cam Cameron will be calling plays from the sidelines this season. It will be the first time in Les Miles’ tenure that he will have all of his coordinators on the field during games.
This will be a big factor in the development of Brandon Harris. The Tigers scored the most points of last season in the bowl game against Texas Tech when Cameron was on the sidelines. Harris threw for more than 250 yards and attributed that success to Cameron’s presence on the field.
Harris will be improved in 2016, but he will need to push the pace and make the offense the strength of the team if the Tigers want to make the playoffs.
On the other side of the coin, the Badgers call on 5th year senior Bart Houston to lead their offense.
Houston– who was named after former Packer’s quarterback Bart Starr– has never started a game for the Badgers. In 2015, he relieved an injured Joel Stave against Illinois completing 22 of 33 attempts for 232 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Houston has a strong arm and stands tall in the pocket, but he has never faced a defense the likes of LSU.
Sep 12, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Bart Houston (13) throws a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Much like Houston, Harris’ first start came against a fierce defense. Harris was called on to start in 2014 against Auburn.
If you are a Tiger fan, you remember how that went. Harris completely melted down, the Tigers were blown out, and Harris didn’t start a game the rest of the season.
I’m not saying Houston will suffer the same fate, but it could very well happen.
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