Dino Babers previews LSU: ‘We’re not Mississippi State’

Syracuse Orange football coach Dino Babers spoke to the media today before Saturday’s matchup against the LSU Tigers. Here’s what he had to say:

“We’re not Mississippi State.”

Entering Saturday, Dino understands that the Orange cannot adopt the same gameplan that Mississippi State used last weekend in a 30-point win over LSU.

“We're not Mississippi state,” Babers said. “Our left tackle can't do [what they did]. Our tailback can't do [what they did]. It's two different teams so we have to attack them a different way. We've got to do what we do and hopefully things will work out."

Obviously we’d love to hear a more positive outlook before the biggest game of the year so far. But at least Babers is conscious enough to know that the Orange and the Bulldogs have two completely different skill sets. Mississippi State is an SEC school with SEC-caliber players. Not to say Syracuse lacks talent, but there is a clear difference.

Still, Babers knows that his team does have a chance to pull off the upset.

“It’s football, you always have a chance,” he said. “They’re a good football team. They’re different than us, their home field advantage is real. All of their players are five star guys. It’s a very very talented football team. The environment and situation is very special that they play in.”

Praise for Derrius Guice

If you have yet to catch an LSU game this season, the feature running back Derrius Guice is powerful, strong, and dominant — as can be seen in this video of him squatting in the offseason.

Through three games this season, he has tallied 300 yards on 57 carries (average of 5.3). Last year, as Leonarde Fournette’s backup (and occasional replacement), he ran for over nearly 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns. Babers only had positive things to say about the LSU star.

“He's one of those guys who guys, 6, 8, 10, and then he goes for 40,” he said. “I think he's a very talented back and he'll be difficult to stop.... We need to put our best guys out there and try to play our best."

Dino is proud of the defense

Perhaps most surprising so far this season, the front seven has been dominant through the first three games. Led by Zaire Franklin, Paris Bennett, and Kendal Coleman, the defense has allowed only a total of 2.6 yards per carry. Dino knows that, while they have been playing much better compared to last season, the next few weeks will either justify or defy the hype.

He said, “The kids are doing a great job in practice. Now, with the teams that we're playing now in the next couple weeks, we've got to keep doing those same things and we'll have a chance to compete in those games."