All of the sudden, LSU is everybody’s favorite darkhorse in the SEC West.
Hounded by quarterback uncertainty and the lingering cloud of last year’s 1-3 finish, the Tigers were generally picked third behind Auburn and Alabama throughout the summer, including by the league’s media. But as the season closes in, LSU’s stock is on the rise.
Two weeks ago AthlonSports.com tabbed the Tigers as a darkhorse candidate to make the College Football Playoffs, and this week ESPN analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbsteit both picked LSU to make the playoff, with Corso calling for the Tigers to win the national championship.
SEC Network analysts Matt Stinchcomb and former LSU standout Marcus Spears weighed in with their take on the Tigers’ prospects recently. And while they weren’t quite ready to call LSU the conference favorite, they did predict a return to double-digit wins.
First, the gimmes:
- McNeese State, Sept. 5
- at Syracuse, Sept. 26
- Eastern Michigan, Oct. 3
- Western Kentucky, Oct. 24
So the non-conference schedule looks pretty manageable. Of course, within in the SEC it’s always a different story.
Sept. 12 — LSU at Mississippi State
Predicted result: Win
Stinchcomb: “I’m not worried about Mississippi State this year, man. Last year, even in the second half, LSU started crawling back into that ball game. Mississippi State was on this kind of charmed run early in the season, but I think (the Tigers) take care of the Bulldogs this year.”
Spears: “I think we’ve just become conscious to knowns, and with Mississippi State there’s too many unknowns.”
Sept. 19 — Auburn at LSU
Predicted result: Win
Spears: “First, I think this will kind of be Brandon Harris’ opportunity to kind of go and rectify what happened to him last year in Jordan-Hare. They get them at home, they get them in the early evening, SEC Nation will be there, so I’m going to give LSU the win.”
Stinchcomb: “I think that Auburn’s going to much improved; they’re going to need to be. I do think that LSU is going to be better prepared, especially if Brandon Harris is the quarterback, because he was not blessed with a lot of starts going into last year’s matchup. I like Auburn in this one.”
Playing the tiebreaker, host Maria Taylor stepped in and gave the W to LSU.
Oct. 10 — LSU at South Carolina
Predicted result: Win
Spears: “For South Carolina this is a bounce-back season; not saying last year was terrible, but on defense they were horrid, and I don’t think they have what it takes to do what they need to do to get a win against LSU this year.”
Stinchcomb: “We talk about quarterback questions all over this conference, but what South Carolina lacks, LSU certainly has. They know what they can do on defense, even with Kevin Steele, and they’ve got Leonard Fournette.”
Oct. 17 — Florida at LSU
Predicted result: Win
Spears: “Jim McElwain, first year, going to Death Valley, still hasn’t picked a starting quarterback. I think this is too much for the guy taking the snaps, and I think it’s too much for the University of Florida and where their program is this year.”
Stinchcomb: “I’m with you. Go ahead and give it to them.”
Nov. 7 — LSU at Alabama
Predicted result: Loss
Spears: “This is where they take their first L in my opinion. I think what LSU does well, versus what Alabama will be up front with those seven guys, I don’t think it fares well for LSU in Tuscaloosa.”
Stinchcomb: “I’m with you. Go ahead and knock them down. Dominant front seven for Alabama, and if you’re going to be one dimensional offensively, you’re in trouble versus the Tide.”
Nov. 14 — Arkansas at LSU
Predicted result: Loss
Spears: “I think (last year’s shutout loss) gives (the Tigers) a little motivation. (The Razorbacks) have to go to Death Valley, so I’m giving LSU the win. I know I sound like a major homer, but that’s ok.”
Stinchcomb: “I like the Razorbacks in that one.”
Called on again, this time Taylor goes against the Tigers and calls for LSU to lose its second straight after an 8-0 start.
Nov. 21 — LSU at Ole Miss
Predicted result: Win
Spears: “The Ole Miss defense is still going to be stout, but I just haven’t seen this team turn the corner yet. LSU has proven they can win these types of games.”
Stinchcomb: “I think LSU beats Ole Miss.”
Nov. 28 — Texas A&M at LSU
Predicted result: Win
Stinchcomb: “This has proven to be interesting. A lot of speed on the field in this game.”
Spears: “A lot of speed on the field, but (LSU matches) up well, because their secondary is solid.”
FINAL PROJECTED RECORD: 10-2
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
