Latest projections from USA TODAY Sports send LSU to a Florida bowl

The Tigers draw NC State in the Gator Bowl, per the latest projections from USA TODAY Sports.

Following Saturday’s win over Ole Miss, the ceiling for LSU in 2022 feels significantly higher all of the sudden. With the victory, the Tigers climbed into the top spot in the SEC West and, if they can upset Alabama after a bye week, may be heading to Atlanta.

We may be getting ahead of ourselves here, but now a New Year’s Six Bowl doesn’t seem to be out of the question. The latest bowl projections from USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith aren’t quite that optimistic, but they do have the Tigers landing in a respectable game.

Smith has LSU heading to Jacksonville to take on NC State in the Gator Bowl. The Wolfpack began the year with high expectations, but they now sit at 5-2 on the year and will be without starting quarterback Devin Leary the rest of the way.

If things break the right way, LSU could find itself in a premier bowl game. Still, heading to the Gator Bowl wouldn’t be a bad way for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to conclude Year 1, given the circumstances.

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