Ross Kelly, CBS Local Sports

New York is about to get a dose of SEC football and some at LSU are not sure they can handle it.

This weekend the LSU Tigers will make the trek up northwest to take on Syracuse in the first of a home-and-home series. (Syracuse will play at LSU in 2017). Syracuse has a historic basketball program, but despite a lenghty list of big names; their football program clearly takes a backseat. The passion of SEC football is unrivaled in college sports and count a VP of the LSU Alumni Association as one who is skeptical if Syracuse can handle what’s about to hit them.

Jason Ramezan said LSU sold out its full away-game allotment of tickets, requested more tickets, and then sold out of those. He estimates that 7500 LSU fans will be on campus at Syracuse despite them just having about 5200 tickets. He also is worried that the Syracuse faithful won’t have enough of the “beverages” that Tigers fans love and wants them to be prepared. Here is what Ramezan said in an interview with syracuse.com after scouting the area last fall:

“I’ve gone places in the past where they’ve run out (of alcohol). They might meet their alcohol budget for the year. Tailgating at LSU is a science and it’s a religion, and in the fall, it’s almost better than the game…When we went up there we said, ‘Oh this is going to be interesting. There is not a lot of space.’ It’ll be different.”

It most certainly will be for both Tigers fans and Orange fans.

Perhaps while LSU is in the area, running back Leonard Fournette could get acquainted with the area. Chances are if he has any more performances like he had vs. Auburn; Fournette could be back in New York for the Heisman award presentation in December.

Ross Kelly is an Associated Producer for CBS Local Sports. He is from Louisiana and is a fan of all sports, but not of any teams (except LSU). He can be reached at ross.kelly@cbs.com.