CITRUS BOWL (Orlando) -- Notre Dame has sent home its No. 3 RB, Deon McIntosh, for disciplinary reasons, bringing to four suspended players for this game. All play offense. The pattern raises doubts about the Domers’ overall mindset. LSU is the least flashy standout team in the country, with the eighth-best rushing offense and a mere eight turnovers committed — half against Troy. In the past seven games, it has doled out just 11 points in the fourth quarter. Bell-cow RB Derrius Guice, worn down by at least 19 carries in each of the past half-dozen games, should be fresh after some R&R. The Irish are run-oriented, which is fine with the Tigers, who rank among the top 25 defenses against the ground and the pass. They have covered in six consecutive games, a contrast to N-Dame with failures in fourth straight. Under Brian Kelly, the Irish can show one ATS win in the past five postseason appearances.

CITRUS BOWL (Orlando, Fla.) -- The Fighting Irish are underdogs, but my projections have them handling LSU 60 percent of the time. The value here lies in a field goal cushion of a spread. Take Notre Dame, especially in what should be a defensive battle.