SDS Crystal Ball: Predicting every game for LSU football in 2018
I’ll be honest with you.
LSU could make me look very, very dumb in 2018. I realize that’s a strange thing to admit before I break down the Tigers’ season, but it’s the feeling I can’t shake.
Obviously a big part of that is Joe Burrow. It’s been so long that we’ve seen LSU have a game-changer at quarterback that it’s almost hard to imagine what that would even look like. And if he’s not that game-changer, we’ll be looking for the next Leonard Fournette or Derrius Guice somewhere in LSU’s backfield.
There are questions galore surrounding the offense. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but for the sake of making preseason predictions, it’s a difficult thing for a program like LSU.
That’s my way of saying that I’m prepared to have some serious egg on my face.
2017 record: 9-3 (6-2)
Jeaux Burreaux
That still hasn’t gotten old yet. Burreaux, AKA Joe Burrow, has LSU fans buzzing and understandably so. The quarterback-starved program is hoping that the guy who couldn’t beat out J.T. Barrett or Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State is going to become a star. And quite frankly, I’m not opposed to the optimism.
Why? It’s not like Burrow was developed by Darrell Hazell (no offense to Danny Etling). He was developed by Urban Meyer, Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day. Say what you want about the off-field issues of those first 2 coaches, but no one can deny their history of developing quarterbacks.
Meyer told me at Big Ten Media Days that he thought Burrow was a “made quarterback.” That’s the best news that LSU fans can hear. It won’t be on new offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger to build him from the ground up. It’ll be his job to adjust with Burrow and to make sure they’re on the same page, but nobody needs to teach the Ohio State transfer how to play the position at the collegiate level.
Will he be named the starter before the Miami game? I highly doubt it. Will people still act like this is a real competition? Definitely. But to me, Burrow was brought to Baton Rouge for 1 reason, and that is to get LSU through this daunting schedule.
Speaking of the schedule …
So initially, I thought what everyone pretty much did. LSU’s schedule is so tough that it seems inevitable that we’re going to hear about Ed Orgeron’s future throughout 2018. Vegas set the over/under for LSU’s regular season win total at 6.5, which has since gone up to 7. That’s for an LSU program that won at least 8 games in every year of the 21st century, so naturally, it has fans fearing doom and gloom.
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
I’m kind of going in a different direction now, at least as it relates to LSU’s expectations. As daunting as the schedule is — 5 matchups against teams that could start in the top 15 won’t be fun — it seems like the bar has been lowered to a more realistic level for LSU. Now, an 8-4 season is going to look a whole lot better than it would in most years.
If the Tigers win one or even two of those huge headliner matchups, especially at home, Orgeron has the chance to change the narrative in a hurry. LSU fans might remember when it opened the 2016 season against a Wisconsin team that had such average expectations because of its brutal schedule. The Badgers beat LSU and went on to play for a conference championship.
I’m not saying that’ll happen to the Tigers, but there’s something to be said for an elite program having lower expectations than normal.
Dave Aranda’s new territory
I always think it’s convenient to have at least one legitimate All-America candidate at each level of a defense. Rashard Lawrence, Devin White, Greedy Williams … OK, we’re good there. It’s even more convenient to have one of the game’s top coordinators running the show. Dave Aranda … OK, we’re good there, too.
I’d expect LSU to have another top-15 defense. To be honest, I thought Arden Key and Donte Jackson were talented, but easily replaceable pieces. Shoot, I’ve seen Aranda take 2-star walk-ons and turn them into more productive players than Key was last year (when healthy).
Perhaps that’s part of the reason LSU shelled out then-record setting money to keep Aranda in Baton Rouge. The Tigers were essentially forced to exceed what Texas A&M offered, which set an odd precedent. Now, he’s making just $1 million less than what Orgeron made in 2018. I’m still not convinced that’ll be a conflict-free situation.
Aranda is so respected that if LSU’s defense starts wearing down because the offense can’t sustain drives against elite foes (where have I heard that before?), it’ll be Orgeron who gets blamed. If LSU is putting that kind of investment into Aranda, that can’t be the case.
The pressure is on for Aranda deliver, and fortunately for him, he has plenty of pieces to do so.
Game-by-Game predictions
Week 1: vs. Miami (L)*
While I think Burrow is going to be vastly better than any LSU quarterback in recent memory, I think facing a top-10 defense in his first career start in Jerry World will be awfully challenging. I’ve been saying all summer this has the feel of a 17-14 game. I think the Tigers fall just short to a Miami squad that’s eager to get the bad taste out of its mouth from the end of 2017.
Week 2: vs. Southeastern Louisiana (W)
Isn’t this where the Water Boy went to school? Does Bobby Boucher have any eligibility left? No? OK, moving on.
Week 3: at Auburn (L)
I know. Sound the alarms. It’s panic time in Baton Rouge. A 1-2 start is the result after Auburn avenges last year’s embarrassing collapse at LSU. It’s hard to pick against the home team when the host has been the victor in 5 consecutive years. A loss in the Tiger Bowl sends LSU fans into “here we go again” mode.
Week 4: vs. Louisiana Tech (W)
For what it’s worth, Louisiana Tech came up a point short at South Carolina last year and at Arkansas the year before that (also, remember Louisiana Tech’s 59-57 loss to Johnny Manziel’s Texas A&M squad in 2012?). Skip Holtz would love nothing more than to finally get over the hump against an SEC team. Unfortunately for him, LSU takes all of its 1-2 anger out and cruises at home.
Week 5: vs. Ole Miss (W)
Ole Miss will be a welcome sight for the LSU offense in Week 5. By then, the ground game should have more of an identity and Burrow will be a bit more comfortable running the offense. Williams against AJ Brown has potential to be the No. 1 WR/CB matchup in the SEC, but it’s probably not ideal that Ole Miss’ best player is lining up against a potential All-American. LSU gets on the board in SEC play.
Week 6: at Florida (W)
This is going to be a huge, huge, huge game for shaping the 2018 narrative on Orgeron. Win in Gainesville and suddenly a 1-2 start overall doesn’t look so bad with a 2-1 start to SEC play. I think that’s what’ll happen. Want a weird stat? Florida has won 3 games vs. LSU in the past 9 meetings. The Gators didn’t score more than 16 points in any of those wins. I wouldn’t be surprised if this would up being a 24-21 or a 21-20 game that LSU pulls out. Burrow leads a poised drive to win it in the closing minutes and delivers his best moment yet.
Week 7: vs. Georgia (W)
Let’s get weird. You already know the atmosphere in the Bayou will be electric for this one. LSU will be the team with nothing to lose while Georgia is probably a top-4 team after a 6-0 start. We saw the Dawgs crumble in their toughest regular-season matchup at Auburn last year. While I don’t think it’s that kind of a blowout, I think it all just clicks for LSU. The Tigers’ ground game has its most impressive performance of the year and fuels the upset. Orgeron is hoisted off the field like he just won a national title and all is well in Baton Rouge.
Week 8: vs. Mississippi State (L)
Ah, but thus is life in the SEC. Right after LSU is feeling like it just overcame a major hurdle, it struggles to capture that same juice the following week against MSU. After the Bulldogs dismantled LSU in Starkville last year, they find themselves in a much closer game this year. Ultimately, Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat take over late and LSU’s last-ditch effort comes up short.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Alabama (L)
So here’s what I will say. I think LSU actually exceeds 24 points against the Tide for the first time since 2007. How’s that for a prediction? Having a quarterback who can actually stretch the field will pay huge dividends for the Tigers. And I think the same will be true for Alabama. Tua Tagovailoa and Burrow make this matchup different than the limited quarterback play we’ve seen in recent memory. Still, the Tide escape Baton Rouge with a hard-fought 34-27 win.
Week 11: at Arkansas (W)
After that brutal 3-game gauntlet of top-15 teams, LSU finally gets to face a team that it should dominate at the line of scrimmage. Chad Morris’ offense against Aranda’s defense could be fun in a couple years, but for now, Lawrence and the Tigers’ line should feast.
Week 12: vs. Rice (W)
Is there a such thing as a crawfish cupcake? If there is, Orgeron has probably tried it.
Week 13: at Texas A&M (W)
A roller-coaster regular season ends on a high for LSU. It’s interesting that Jimbo Fisher was brought to Texas A&M to beat Alabama and Georgia for SEC titles. Really, though, Aggies fans should probably be more focused on ending a 7-year losing streak to the Tigers first. Say what you want about the limitations of the LSU offense, but averaging 49.5 points per game against Texas A&M the past 2 years is plenty impressive. New A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko won’t let that happen, but LSU will still have enough to squeak out a gutsy road win in College Station to reach the 8-win mark.
2018 projection: 8-4 (5-3)
Final Standings: 4th in SEC West
* at AT&T Stadium in Dallas
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
#GeauxTigers
I’m warning you, LSU fans. If this season plays out like I projected it will, it might take years off your life. The highs will be high, and the lows will be low. But in the end, I think an 8-4 regular season with that challenging of a schedule would be a win.
In a weird way, I actually think this could be a pretty satisfying year for LSU. Burrow will have his tough moments early on, but he’ll live up to the expectation that he’s different from recent LSU quarterbacks. We’ll see the Tigers get a seminal moment against Georgia, and they’ll put up a better offensive showing against Alabama. That wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
The narrative will shift from LSU being this team that can only run the ball, and that’ll make some of those losses easier to stomach. No, they won’t get to Atlanta, which I realize is the measuring stick for some LSU fans. But with Burrow back in 2019 and an extremely talented young core expected to take over next year, 2018 has the makings of a major foundational year for the program.
And yes, Orgeron keeps his job.
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8-4 is possible with Aranda, but I would switch the UGA and MSU predictions. I find it interesting that you have so much faith in Ensminger. Personally, I would be surprised if they score more than a field goal against Bama.
^ what he said. LSU has one of the toughest schedules in nation. Tigers will play hard every week – count on that – but if injuries stack up, Tigers could be deep into their depth chart by mid October.
AU Alum 91…well at least LSU has a depth chart this season. As last season, LSU didn’t have one until right before the Auburn game and we all saw what happened.
KDR, relax brother, i wasn’t throwing shade at your team. My comment about LSU applies exactly the same to Auburn. Regardless of depth, your 1s are better than your 2s … who are better than your 3s. If you lose starters, you can expect a drop-off. That applies to every team in the nation.
AU Alum 91…reading comprehension skills aren’t one of your strong points. The problem that plagued LSU last year was not the ones, but the twos because, courtesy of Les Miles. Because we didn’t have nearly enough twos in the trenches last season. Which is why we struggled so badly in the Moo State game, the Syracuse game, the Troy State game, and the Florida game.
However, very, fortunately, LSU returned back to full strength right before the Auburn game.
Hence, the team that beat Auburn last season was not the same team that lost to Moo State and Troy State and that had also struggled so much against Syracuse and Florida.
As you guys got us when we were back to full strength, which is why we were able to beat you guys. At full strength, LSU could play with anyone in the country last season. My only regret is we couldn’t avenge those losses last season to Moo State and Troy State. As if we would have been at full strength when we played those two games, the outcomes would have been very different.
I agree with the UGA & MSU switch. While both teams showed that they can get blown out on the road last year, MSU will be adjusting to a new coach and doesn’t quite have the same talent depth from recruiting as LSU & UGA. A win over UGA would be a bigger upset, but a win over MSU is a safer bet.
…, After LSU beats Miami, Auburn, and Florida when LSU beats Georgia, I don’t think it will be looked at as an upset.
KDR, does the staff at Seaside Health Systems know you’re off your meds?
AU Alum 91…Auburn doesn’t have any Kerryon Johnson in the running back corps, only one returning starter on the offensive line, and you guys also lost a few critical pieces to your defense too.
Hence, LSU’s far better front seven this season will take advantage of your weak and inexperienced offensive line to shut down the run and to pressure the crap out of Jarreth Stidham. Just like LSU did last season in the second half.
As I hate to burst your foolish bubble, but LSU will beat Auburn at home this season. As Auburn’s offense and its defense will not be quite as good as last season. While both LSU’s offense and defense will be far better than last season.
you know I tend to agree with you on that. If LSU can score 21 or more they will beat all three of those teams because Our D is going to lock down these teams due to quality depth which we have not seen the last couple of years.
While LSU’s defense will be better than UGA’s, LSU’s offense will not be anywhere near as good. Burrow will probably as good as advertised and I have no doubt one of LSU’s running back steps up and becomes dominant. But every position on UGA’s offense is loaded deep with talent and (except the freshman) they’ve been playing in the same system for several years. Plus, the key pieces on UGA’s offense are accustomed to big games in loud stadiums, mitigating the impact of Death Valley at night. It will be a tough, physical game, but I think UGA’s offense will overcome in the very end.
boxter355…what are you smoking? LSU’s elite defense will inevitably be top five or better this season. While Georgia has to replace players off to the NFL with talented but still inexperienced players. Hence. LSU will be better than Georgia on the defensive side of the ball.
Moreover, I don’t care how deep Georgia’s offense is, they are not going to be able to run the ball consistently against LSU’s defense. Which means LSU will render them one dimensional. However, I believe that LSU’s passing game will be superior to Georgia’s passing game because we will have a more accurate QB passing the ball and because our receiver corps is off the charts.
Not to mention, I don’t care how accustomed to loud stadiums Georgia is, they still haven’t played in Death Vally Stadium at LSU before. Indeed, LSU wins because of the home field advantage.
their are no stadiums like Death Valley at night! LSU wins this by 7.
This is a pretty spot on prediction. To be honest uga, MSU, Auburn, Miami and even Alabama are toss up games. LSU always has talent. If the osu transfer is a good quarterback and limits mistakes then it is very possible to see LSU back in Atlanta or at least a New Years six bowl
There’s a difference between “toss up” and “winnable”. These games are winnable for LSU, but I don’t think they are all toss ups.
Aren’t all toss up games, winnable though?
Yes, but not all winnable games are toss ups. Squares & rectangles
I get what you’re saying. I was using toss up and winnable interchangeably.
Pls define the difference? Seems like semantics to me.
Ah, we were thinking the same thing, just saying it differently. I agree about the talent and the difference a good QB could make. But with that schedule (not that your tigers have an easy one either), I’ll have to see it come together on the field before I begin to believe.
I consider the outcome of a toss up game to be roughly 50/50 (the ‘toss’ of a coin). Either a win or a loss is roughly equally likely.
I consider a winnable game to be a broader category that includes toss ups, but also describes games where one is heavily favored or is not a significant underdog; it is any game where winning is realistic. Every game where you aren’t a significant underdog is essentially winnable.
Examples:
I don’t call Alabama v The Citadel a toss up; I call it very winnable for Bama (99.8% – FPI), and not at all winnable for The Citadel.
Auburn v Washington? With a 50.5% chance of a UW win (FPI), it is certainly winnable for both teams, but I’d call this a toss up to be more specific.
Miami v LSU? FPI favors Miami at 65.7%; not a true toss up because there is a discernible favorite, but certainly winnable for either team.
Way longer than intended, but hope this clarifies.
That’s how I was thinking about it. Just different verbiage
I want what this dumb loon writer is smoking.
The unknowns related to the LSU backfield make it difficult to make a serious projection as to how the LSU season plays out. Things could all fall into place, or even fall apart. My hope is that LSU will have a legitimate shot at a 10 win season, and they actually accomplish that. Last year’s team had a legitimate shot but blew two great win opportunities. I’m excited about the Miami game. It’s a great opportunity to leave a lot of bad things behind. Anyone can make predictions, but hope is really all we have until the games get underway.
Miami: W (I like the upset here. Miami was slightly overrated last year, and I think LSU surprises people with this one.)
Southeastern Louisiana: W
@ Auburn: L
LA Tech: W
Ole Miss: W (This one could be closer than some think)
@ Florida: W
Georgia: L
Mississippi State: W (I went back and forth on this one. Yeah we destroyed them last year, but Death Valley is tough. Even Saban’s Bama teams have never won by more than 10 in that stadium, and two of those wins have come in overtime.)
Alabama: L
@ Arkansas: W
Rice: W
@ Texas A&M: L (I think all the fun LSU’s been having in this matchup comes to a halt in the first year of the Jimbo Fisher era.)
8-4(4-4 in SEC play)
LSU wins at least one of the 3 (Alabama,Auburn,Georgia) very possibly 2 of the three. I think we are due to have a year with few injuries and our offense will surprisingly balanced. So I say 9-3 with possible 10-2.
Our D is going to be insane this year doing stunts they have not done under Aranda to date. This is the third year in in system and it will show. I see them being a top 5 D
Pretty sure LSU lost to Troy in Death Valley at night. So, let’s chill with the nonsense that they can’t be beaten in that situation. I get it, the Dawgs are a much bigger deal than Troy so presumably the Tigers won’t be sleepwalking thru the game but, then again, the crowd up in Knoxville last year was electric…till the scoring started. A crowd of 100,000 can be silenced just as effectively as a crowd of 50,000 when the visitors start taking it to the home team. And that’s really the only explanation O’Gara gives as to how or why LSU beats UGA. Sorry, pal. You have to base your picks on something that at least resembles logic. Wishing and hoping for a Dawg defeat isn’t even going to cut it. You can fantasize about UGA’s first game against Auburn last year all you want. It’s not going to save the Tigers in 2018.
You may want to check your enthusiasm at the gate if you go!! If you think that game will be like a troy state game you are crazy! 1st the stadium was not even 3/4 full and coach O had the offense simplified which he shouldn’t have done to Canada’s game plan but hey, I know you perineal number 2 team in the east had a good year last year so you do have a shot. Yes 100,000 people can be silenced as easy as 50K but they can also me more ignited and loud. You are the one who is in fantasy land if you are come into Tiger stadium thinking it will be like a troy game. Good luck with that!
Must be an LSU homer. More like 6-6 and Farmer Fran gets fired. Still searching for an identity on offense, new OC, new QB and Orgeron as head coach… LSU living on past laurels. LSU won by 1 lousy point against arguably the worst Gator’s team in 40 years.
GatorManiac…LSU, struggled big time with several of its best defensive linemen out for that game and also with a couple of its starters on the offensive line out as well. So yeah it struggled against Florida last season, just like it struggled against Syracuse, Troy State, and Moo State before Florida for the same damn reason.
However, the next week LSU got back healthy and all of a sudden, boom, LSU stopped struggling and upset Auburn.
The main problem last season was courtesy of Les Miles LSU didn’t have any depth in the trenches. That’s no longer a problem this upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Florida still won’t have a QB and LSU will have a very good QB this upcoming season. So two in a row in Gator Stadium for LSU.
hey bro a win is a win. Gators have had several arguably worst teams lately. Playing in the weak east is all that helps you out. By the way that 1 point win was at your place, you will get beat by more this year.
First off, Miami is going to be an easy victory for LSU. As LSU’s front seven is going to literally destroy their weak and pathetic offensive line, the same way they are also going to also destroy Auburn’s weak and very inexperienced offensive line in game three.
Not to mention, that Auburn doesn’t have any replacement in the running back corps for Kerryon Johnson and the defense is going to be good, but not quite as good as it was last season.
In addition, LSU’s Dave Aranda knows how to defend against Jarreth Stidham, as LSU held him to his worse outing of the season last season.
So right there are two more victories right off the bat for LSU that the writer missed.
In addition, Moo State’s new coaching staff in their infinite wisdom took away most of the designed QB runs former head coach Dan Mullins used to run to play up to his QB’s strengths and replaced them with downfield passing plays instead. Which is very counter-intuitive if you ask me. As Nick Fitzgerald has always been a far better runner than he has been a passer.
In addition, Moo State’s receiving corps is stocked up with mediocre receivers and with only one average first year receiver.
In other words, Moo State’s new coaching staff just utterly destroyed their offense’s strengths before the season even got underway.
In addition, both teams defensive fronts are a wash, however, LSU has far superior inside linebackers, so overall LSU’s front seven is better than Moo State’s front seven.
Moreover, with Greedy Williams and Kristian Fulton at the corners and with both starting safeties and their backups returning, LSU is far superior in the defensive backfield relative to Moo State.
As Kristian Fulton, who was suspended all of last season, is the best cornerback in the country that nobody outside of LSU knows about. In fact, he is even better than Greedy Williams, who everyone outside of LSU knows about.
Not to mention, that Moo State is making their linebackers lose weight this offseason because they are going to be used in pass protection, as opposed to pressuring the opposing teams’ QBs. Which is fine with LSU, as Joe Burrow will have all of the time in the world to complete his passes.
Moreover, the game will be played in Tiger Stadium. Hence, it will be an easy victory for LSU because LSU’s Joe Burrow is far better and a far more accurate passer than Nick Fitzgerald and LSU’s receiver corps is overflowing with elite talent and is far better than Moo State’s receiver corps, and LSU’s defensive backfield is also far superior to Moo State’s defensive backfield.
Furthermore, OC Steve Ensminger’s new offensive scheme is far better than Moo State’s offensive scheme as well, because it actually fits LSU’s talent and isn’t counter-intuitive as Moo State’s offensive scheme seems to be.
I also believe LSU will have a good shot against Alabama this season because the game will be played in Baton Rouge. Plus, LSU’s front seven will be at least as good as Alabama’s front seven if not a little better overall because of LSU’s inside linebackers. As LSU is likely to have six former five-star players and only one former high-four star player starting against Alabama in the front seven and the lone former high four-star player, Devin White, is a projected top-ten draft pick in next spring’s upcoming draft, as he led the SEC during the regular season with 133 tackles.
Meanwhile, LSU’s defensive backfield with Greedy Williams and Kristian Fulton will be far superior to Alabama’s inexperienced defensive backfield. As Alabama, this upcoming season is forced to completely rebuild its entire defensive backfield from scratch with very inexperienced but talented players.
Furthermore, LSU has finally gotten away from the run-first offenses of its past and has transitioned to a new state of the art spread/tempo offense. Which is the exact same kind of offense that has always given Nick Saben and his defense fits.
As Alabama traditionally has always been very good at stopping the run but has only been very average when it comes to stopping the pass.
Hence, teams who can pass the ball very effectively, like LSU will be able to do this upcoming season, always have a very good shot at defeating Alabama.
In any event, I don’t share the same kind of doubts and concerns that the writer of this very lame article does.
As all of Joe Burrow’s former high school coaches and all of his former high school teammates, along with all of Joe Burrow’s former college coaches, including Urban Meyer, and all of his former Ohio State teammates have no doubt that Joe Burrow will shine this season at LSU because of all of the elite talent LSU has in its wide receiver corps. As they all say that when Burrow is surrounded by the kind of elite talent that LSU has, it only makes him a better football player.
Hence, since they are all immensely confident that Joe Burrow will be outstanding for LSU this upcoming season, then I am too.
Hey, KingDaddy, what name is it you call MSU? Oh, yesh, Moo State. Thanks for letting us know. Eight times! LoL! It will be interesting to see what the QB at StarkVegas does once they get into competing in the SEC.
one correct Fulton is still suspended!
“The quarterback-starved program is hoping that the guy who couldn’t beat out J.T. Barrett or Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State is going to become a star.”
I’m going to have to rain down a little on this writer’s quite false impression of Joe Burrow. As the only reason why Joe Burrow lost the backup spot to Dwayne Haskins last season is because he broke his right throwing hand late in fall camp. Hence, Dwayne Haskins won that spot last season only by default.
With respect to this season, since Joe Burrow was graduating at the end of the spring semester, he informed Urban Meyer before the spring camp that he would be transferring if he wasn’t named the starter after spring camp. Subsequently, after spring camp, when Joe Burrow met with Urban Meyer, he was informed that he had the lead for the starting job going into fall camp, but that the competition would extend until late in fall camp.
That was not what Joe Burrow wanted to hear, so he transferred to LSU and Ohio State’s loss is now LSU’s gain.
Meanwhile, subsequently, after Joe Burrow announced he was transferring, Dwayne Haskins was announced by Urban Meyer as the starter, but here again, like last fall, he only won the job by default.
Not to mention, that one of Joe Burrow’s brothers just had a twitter battle that he won with an individual that was trying to say and insinuate the same damn thing as this writer is very erroneously saying and insinuating.
Moreover, with respect to J.T. Barrett who is the best QB not only in Ohio State history but also in Big Ten history ever, a very significant segment of the Ohio State fanbase always lobbied for Joe Burrow to start above J.T. Barrett.
The moral of the story is get your facts straight before you make stupid assumptions and insinuations you may subsequently regret.
Good grief, story doesn’t begin to describe the novel you just posted. I didn’t read it and will be surprised if anyone else did. Started and then dave up as I scrolled to see how long it is and then a second one to boot. From the first few lines you may want to consider letting up a bit on the tiger juice.
fuzzywuzzy…great! Nobody twisted your arm and forced you to read it. Not to mention, you don’t sound like you could understand what was written in any event. Finally, how do you know about the tiger juice if you didn’t read it? Oh…oh yeah.
you may need some aderal if you can’t concentrate long enough to read that statement.
as a UGA fan, the trip to LSU is my number 1 worry on the schedule
TFK_Fanboy…I don’t blame you in the least.
That is a reasonable response. It will be a hard fought game by two great football teams.
As I was saying…
Lsu upsetting the dawgs? Well, if Jake Fromm wants to keep his job, he better bring his A game because Justin Fields is waiting in the wings.
LSU’s defense this upcoming season will be better overall than Georgia’s defense and both offenses will be a wash. Hence, LSU wins because of the home field advantage.
I’m not doubting you because I know there are a lot of good players on that team and they are playing in Baton Rouge, but if the dawgs lose, I think we will see a lot of Justin Fields.
“. . . both offenses will be a wash.”
Seriously? You’ve got multiple Heisman candidates in your O? A monster line? A two-deep unit that is made up almost entirely of 4- and 5-star hosses? You got one of the nation’s most efficient passers returning, and Kirby on the sideline?
I’m telling you now – this offensive unit will average 40-plus a game in 2018. The training wheels are off the youngsters and Chaney is licking his chops at what this squad could produce.
To play devil’s advocate, UGA could average 40 PPG against that schedule and see not necessarily be great. But based on what we know right now, I would expect UGA’s offense to be better than lsu’s.
Mountain Dog…yep.
Just . . . damn, son . . .
they will not score 40 on LSU I will guarantee that!! they will struggle to score 21.
“Meyer told me at Big Ten Media Days that he thought Burrow was a “made quarterback.” That’s the best news that LSU fans can hear.”
For Pete’s sakes, give me a break. Urban Meyer is not a QB developer. That’s not what he does. He didn’t develop Tim Tebow. That was Dan Mullen. He didn’t develop J.T. Barrett either. Or any of the other QBs that played for his teams, for that matter.
The thing that sets Joe Burrow apart from other QBs is he has a gift for reading opposing teams’ defenses, which he learned from his dad who has been the Defensive Coordinator at Ohio University for the past 13 years.
Hence, unlike most other QBs, Joe Burrow has learned to take what opposing defenses give him. Which is why most of the receivers that he hits are usually wide open and in which also accounts for why he throws so few interceptions.
Meanwhile, all of that knowledge Joe Burrow had already before he ever arrived at Ohio State courtesy of his own father.
The only one who Joe Burrow credit’s on Ohio State’s coaching staff for any development is Ryan Day, his QB coach last season, for helping him to improve on his footwork.
As far as increasing his arm strength and all of that goes, Burrow says that all came naturally as he worked out and grew bigger and stronger every year.
Furthermore, Joe Burrow was recruited and brought to Ohio State by former offensive coordinator Tom Herman, now at Texas. While Dwayne Haskins was personally recruited by Urban Meyer himself.
Meanwhile, many Ohio State fans speculate that the reason why Urban Meyer has always seemed to have a strong affinity for Dwayne Haskins when he is obviously not as good as Joe Burrow is that Tom Herman and Urban Meyer didn’t like each other and didn’t get along. So the speculation is Meyer is trying to take that history out on Joe Burrow to get back at Tom Herman.
In any event, Urban Meyer has always been a compulsive liar and an arrogant self-promoter, which is why he is in so much hot water today. Meanwhile, this writer is quite simply very gullible and still wet behind the ears. While also obviously not being very thorough.
“While I think Burrow is going to be vastly better than any LSU quarterback in recent memory, I think facing a top-10 defense in his first career start in Jerry World will be awfully challenging.”
Since when does Miami have a top 10 defense? Miami’s defense finished the season last season ranked 38th in total defense. Which is 26 spots worse than LSU’s defense, which finished 12th in total defense last season.
Hence, again, I want what this writer must be smoking.
Not to mention, that was last season. However, this season LSU’s front seven will be elite top five or better, and LSU’s defensive backfield with both Greedy Williams and Kristian Fulton back there at the corners holding down the fort will most certainly be the top defensive backfield in the country. Hence, overall LSU’s defense is top-five and probably even better.
As Kristian Fulton, who was suspended all of last season, is the best cornerback in the country who no one outside of LSU has ever heard about. In fact, he is even better than Greedy Williams who everyone outside of LSU has heard about.
Meanwhile, Miami has to rebuild its interior defensive line and all of its other players on defense return. Hence, Miami’s defense will be about the same or slightly better or less good than last season, which again finished 38th in the country in total defense last season. Not exactly anything to write h0me about.
Meanwhile, in the SEC, LSU plays against top-15 or better defenses in the country almost every week.
Like I said, what is this writer smoking?
“It’s hard to pick against the home team when the host has been the victor in 5 consecutive years.”
Even though Auburn doesn’t have a replacement for Kerryon Johnson in its running back corps and the offensive line only has one returning starter from last season and will inevitably be very inexperienced going against LSU’s elite front seven?
Not to mention, that Auburn’s defense also lost a few very critical players from last years defense that they will have to find suitable replacements for.
Simply going by past history, when LSU has a new hungry head coach and therefore, past history has been shoved out the door, seems to me to be exceedingly lackadaisical on this poor writer’s part.
Not to mention, that Jarreth Stidham had his worse outing of the season against LSU last season because LSU’s DC Dave Aranda knows how to stop him, and this year LSU goes to Auburn with a lot better defensive team than Aranda had last season.
This very incompetent writer inevitably is going to have a lot more than just a lot of egg smeared all over his face.
Please stop. You’re taking up more real estate than trump.
Fuzzywuzzy…okay, I get it, you are a leftwing loon.
He’s right, though. You write way too damn much. You ought to know your audience a little better. You need to learn to get your point across without all the fluff. The 3 “B’s” of public speaking: Be Brief, Be direct, Be gone. Ain’t gonna lie, I, too, scrolled to see how long your posts were. Didn’t read them.
Bunker Ball Buster…in case you haven’t noticed yet, this is not a public speaking platform. This the comment section of Saturday Down South.
Furthermore, no one is twisting your arm to read my comments. So don’t read them, I assure you I could care less.
Was this written in the LSU athletic department? Dream on.
Whew! KingDaddy is one Wascally Wabbit! Bama, UGA, Auburn, the U, Miss State – we should all just forfeit those games against LSU now and save ourselves the trouble and embarrassment. I had no idea what a powerhouse was being brewed up in BR! Go ahead and pencil them Bayou Bengals in as champs. Wait, not pencil – use a Sharpie!
Mountain Kurdog…”we should all just forfeit those games…”
That’s what I would recommend.
It would be the only way LSU wins them all.
Connor, Ga didn’t crumble at Auburn. The officials were letting Auburn get away with everything. Their receivers were pushing off our DB’s right before they made their last cut and when the ball was arriving.
Their DB’s were holding our receivers on every route. It’s already hard enough to beat a good team. When the officials choose sides, it’s almost impossible.
Gary Danielson didn’t call out the SEC officials for nothing.
Baton Rouge won’t be the first hostile crowd for the Dawgs.
Ga is SC’s 1-B biggest rivalry. Half their players came from Georgia and didn’t get an offer from the home team. If they can handle Columbia, they can against LSU.
Georgia beats LSU by 10-20.
Haha, wow, of course another team couldn’t beat Georgia fair and square…had to be the refs! Auburn dominated you guys, it’s ok to admit it. Georgia dominated us in the first half and then we dominated y’all the final 30 to win it.
A UGA fan blaming the refs…… I bet everyone seen that coming….
Yep, ol Timmy boy has an excuse for everything. How did all those receivers pushing off limit the Dynamic Duo (Chubb/Michel) to only 46 yds of rushing? And I guess our O-Line was holding on every play – how else could Kerryon rack up 167 yds on the ground.
Dude, give it a rest. You won the rematch. Go play with your Vince Dooley Bobblehead doll.
Yeah, Gary Danielson has always been a closet UGA fan.
Everyone who watched that game saw that coming. Your UGA hate getting in your way.
UGA hate?. You’re on every other article crying about the refs…. It doesn’t make someone a hater to point out you’re a crying b!tch…
And using Gary danielson as your smoking gun is stupid. Watch the games he calls. He is constantly taking about Bad calls in every game yet he cant get the players names correct and Usually never gets a replay right…… You see what you want to see. Auburn beat the breaks off UGA.
Auburn just beat the crap out of us is what I saw. Kirby even said so himself. He learned from and came back stronger in the rematch.
oh Tim please, stop with the officials ! that has to be the weakest crap going! Were the Auburn bullies hurting your team? You better not waste your trip coming down her if you think you are going to win by 10 or 20. you will be going home crying!! You will struggle to even score 20.
KDR…… Not a single person reads your posts. As soon as we see your name we know it’s a LSU homer spouting rainbows and Unicorns.
LSU fans even ignore you at “andthevalleyshook”….
Rating teams before the season has started is retarded. People rate teams on what they looked like last year. If you listen the Coach O talk about his practices he keeps mentioning freshman and transfers more than anybody else. He talks about 3 true freshman WRs after every practice. I am excited to see what is going to happen this year, but I refuse to try and measure out how my team will play this year before the season has even started. You just never know, especially with the Tigers! I am excited! GEAUX TIGERS!
Geaux4, everything you said makes sense … but it’s been 7 long months since the Natty. For some fan bases, it’s been 8 months since their team last suited up. With the exception of Bama fans who hoisted yet another piece of crystal, we’re all suffering some form of depression, bi-polar or PTSD.
(Note: @KingDaddyRabbit apparently hoists a piece of crystal several times a day. His is smaller and it comes in a plastic bag down on the corner of Magazine Street.)
The online tailgate that is this message board is a safer than the alternative. So yes, we’re all a little retarded.
Nope I think this is shaping up to be Ed’s last season at LSU. I think the angst gets going when LSU loses a couple more recruiting battles for in state players. Then everything goes to hell when a road game loss to Florida starts a 5 game losing streak and Ed is gone after a terrible road loss to Arkansas. The interim coach gets a W against Rice and then reality for LSU hits home with a blowout loss to Texas A&M to end the season. This season has all the makings of a dumpster fire for LSU.