Texas at LSU: How To Watch As Longhorns Aim To Stay In Playoff Picture

The Texas Longhorns will be traveling to Baton Rouge on Saturday to take on the LSU Tigers in a game that Steve Sarkisian knows could be uncomfortable.

With the Tigers already having three losses on the season, their last being a 31-13 dismantling at the hands of Alabama, Lane Kiffin's team will want retribution.

But what is interesting, and perhaps not to the favor of the Longhorns, every time this season LSU has lost, the following week, it has bounced back and won.

So, the Longhorns, with Arch Manning at the helm, have to make sure this isn't a dogfight entering the fourth quarter, because, as we know, the last thing you want to give a team that you should beat is hope.

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Texas' offense has found its groove in the past three weeks, putting up 30+ points in each game as things finally look to have settled a little, and defensively, the Longhorns in the last two games haven't conceded more than 20 points.

It does feel like things are starting to smooth out for Sarkisian's team, but this week is no time to rest on your laurels.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt has thrown for 2,553 yards, completed over 70 percent of his passes, and has 17 TDs this season. But he isn't the only one the Longhorns' defense has to slow down.

Running back Dilin Jones (713 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and receiver Jackson Harris (800 yards, 7 TDs) are two weapons that Texas simply can't allow to get rolling, because in the confines of Death Valley, that could be a wave of momentum that the Longhorns' defense can't stop.

READ MORE:  Texas Faces Critical Tests Against LSU With Playoff Hopes At Stake

Arch is going to have to play a clean game, something he's done in the past two outings (6 TDs, no interceptions). Ryan Wingo will have to get rolling in the passing game, and so will Cam Coleman; the rushing attack has to get something tangible going, too.

If, and that's a big if, the Longhorns can escape Death Valley with a win, they'll be on a four-game winning streak with just two games left in the regular season.

- WHEN: Saturday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. CT

- WHERE: Tiger Stadium (Death Valley)

- TV: ABC

- RADIO: Longhorns Radio Network

ODDS VIA DRAFTKINGS:

- SPREAD: Texas +4 | LSU -4

- MONEYLINE: Texas Longhorns: +150 | LSU Tigers: -180 

- OVER/UNDER POINTS: 46.5