UAB @ LSU preview

No. 11 LSU will look to carry forward the offensive fortitude it displayed in last week’s season-opening 37-27 victory over TCU, but as the Tigers host UAB on Saturday, there will be a focus on eliminating the mistakes that kept the opener close. The Tigers gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown, set up another TCU score with a fumble at their 6-yard line and kept a drive alive with a roughing the passer penalty. “If we improve on our tackling, we minimize some of the penalties, we don’t turn the ball over, it could have been a much different game,” LSU coach Les Miles told reporters Tuesday.

The Tigers figure to have an easier time with a UAB squad that allowed 497 yards and blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 34-31 overtime loss to Troy in its season opener. The Blazers allowed 319 yards passing as Troy quarterback Corey Robinson set a NCAA record by completing 93.8 percent of his passes (30-for-32). LSU senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger passed for 251 yards and a touchdown against TCU in Cam Cameron’s first game as offensive coordinator, and the Tigers’ defense surrendered only 259 yards.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: LSU, -34.5

ABOUT UAB (0-1, 0-0 Conference USA): Junior receiver Jamarcus Nelson earned Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week after finishing with a school-record 367 all-purpose yards against Troy, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 10 receptions for 199 yards and two scores. The Blazers feature an up-tempo offense under second-year head coach Garrick McGee, averaging 28.3 points and 308.8 passing yards per game last season. UAB was picked to finish fourth in the Conference USA East Division in the conference’s preseason coaches poll.

ABOUT LSU (1-0, 0-0 SEC): Cameron’s debut featured a balanced attack that accumulated 197 rushing yards – 95 by junior Terrence Magee and 89 by senior Alfred Blue. Jeremy Hill, the Tigers’ leading rusher last season, did not play against TCU after pleading guilty to an offseason bar fight, and Miles has not said whether the sophomore will play Saturday. The Tigers lost eight key contributors on defense to the NFL draft, but forced two turnovers and impressed Miles with their speed.

EXTRA POINTS

1. LSU LT La’el Collins earned SEC offensive lineman of the week in his first start.

2. UAB upset LSU in Baton Rouge in the only previous meeting between the two teams, 13-10 in 2000; the Tigers have won 37 consecutive non-conference home games since.

3. Mettenberger has passed for 250-plus yards in four of LSU’s past six games, dating back to last season.

PREDICTION: LSU 44, UAB 7