The LSU Tigers have had to play second fiddle to the powerhouse teams in the state of Alabama the past two years. They were outclassed by the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2012, as their prevent defense failed them in a home game against Nick Saban’s team, which eventually won the national championship that season. Last year, LSU was the one team that beat the Auburn Tigers during the regular season, but LSU stumbled on the road at Ole Miss, and when it also lost to Alabama and Georgia, it lost all claim to being able to contend for the SEC championship. Auburn was the far more consistent team that season, and it defeated Missouri for the SEC title. LSU has been in the background, waiting to make its move back to the front of the SEC West. What will coach Les Miles’ team be able to do this season?
Strengths
The Tigers are good about having a strong yet fast front seven on defense. This has been the backbone of the program for years, though it admittedly wobbled on the defensive line last season. LSU’s offense comes and goes, but the front seven usually gets a mix of nasty, widebody run-stuffers in the middle and then the bookend pass rushers on the edges. LSU’s linebackers have been legitimately great over the past few seasons, despite the team’s relative struggles on a larger level. LSU’s linebackers have been surefire tacklers who shed blocks and get in the right spots to make plays. Last season, the linebackers were better than the front four, and if the Tigers can get their front four to be closer to what it was in 2011, this team could be able to knock off Alabama at home and stay in the SEC West race to the very end.
Weaknesses
The Tigers enter this season without Zach Mettenberger at quarterback. Two seasons ago or even one season ago, this might not have come across as a bad thing. Mettenberger was completely unproven two seasons ago, and nobody knew how he was going to perform. He was a so-so quarterback that year, and when 2013 began, there were still questions about his game despite a rifle arm. However, in 2013, Mettenberger put the pieces together, making the right reads so that his arm strength was able to be put to good use, hitting open receivers instead of forcing balls into double coverage with no real room in which to maneuver. With Mettenberger now gone, LSU has to start all over at quarterback, and it could be a real problem for the Tigers.
Schedule
The Tigers play Wisconsin in Houston in a huge week-one game. That result, win or lose, could affect LSU for the rest of the season, but the Tigers don’t play a tough game again until October against Auburn. The Tigers visit Auburn and host Alabama. If they can split those two games, they should be happy. A road trip to Florida could be tricky, but the Tigers should expect to win that game. A home game against Ole Miss and a late-season road game at Texas A&M will not be easy, either. This is a tough, tough schedule for sure.
Outlook
The Wisconsin game will be extremely tough. Auburn and Alabama are simply better than LSU right now. Yet, if LSU loses those three games and wins all others, it will hit the number. However, the Tigers are probably not strong enough on offense to run the table in games other than Wisconsin, Auburn and Alabama. Take the under for a program that might be great in 2015, but will still struggle somewhat in 2014.
Pick: Under 9 at -115
