Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LSU Tigers tight end Thaddeus Moss (81) is flipped up after a pass reception against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first quarter of the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
NCAABy Sean Keeley on

The LSU Tigers came into the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinals as a 13-point favorite over the Oklahoma Sooners. It didn’t take too long to understand why.

Oklahoma got the ball first but quickly went three-and-out thanks to a stout Tigers defense that started things off with a sack and shut the Sooners down on 3rd-and-17. Oklahoma muffed the punt, giving Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow a great field position. He and the Tigers took just three plays to score on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson.

 

However, just when it looked like the Tigers might run away with one early, the Sooners turned things around and reminded everyone why they’re here. LSU lost All-American guard Damien Lewis, which seemed to signal a shift in momentum. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts was able to break free on multiple occasions to move the Sooners down the field before launching a bomb to CeeDee Lamb for 51 yards.

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That set up an easy touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks to make it 7-7 with 7:34 to go in the first quarter.

Not to be deterred, Burrow and LSU got back on track, driving right down the field to set up a second touchdown. This one came courtesy of Terrence Marshall, who caught a pass in the endzone from a scrambling Burrow.

Oklahoma wasn’t able to match that score and LSU got the ball back (though not without some controversy over a non-call on what appeared to be clear pass interference).

Burrow continued to work his magic, specifically on a 3rd & 2 deep in LSU territory where he scrambled to the sidelines and somehow found Terrace Marshall for a back-breaking first down that kept the drive alive.

A few plays later, Burrow got all the time in the world and lofted a beautiful pass 35 yards down the field to a waiting Justin Jefferson who eased into the endzone. The kick made it 21-7 Tigers.

Oklahoma is far from out of this one but they’re going to have to figure out how to either keep pace with a red-hot Joe Burrow or find a way to shut him down. Neither sounds too promising.

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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