One of the more unique and interesting matchups to open the season is LSU against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

The programs have never met, and yet they each come in with some juicy subplots of having talent at certain positions, but the concern is can they put it all together.

The subject was discussed on the “McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning” on WJOX in Birmingham, Alabama, when Cole Cubelic introduced the matchup from a betting perspective and how LSU was “only” a 3.5-point underdog against UCLA, which he described as an eye opener. He posed that question to ESPN researcher Chris “Bear” Fallica, who is a regular on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”

“LSU is an interesting team for me this year because I really don’t know what way it’s going to go,” he said. “They could bounce back and have a great year, or based on last year and the turnover on the coaching staff, some of the players are probably going to be high draft picks next year, I could see that being challenging Alabama, or completely imploding.”

Fallica called the matchup a, “tricky opener for LSU, I think, more so than a lot of people, down there in the SEC might understand or realize.”

Greg McElroy agreed with Fallica, and said he called a UCLA game last year against Southern Cal, and even though the Trojans were the superior team based on skill and talent, “UCLA, they brought their lunch pails. Shockingly enough, that’s a physical football team that wants to run the football.”