The Tigers didn’t have the prettiest first half once again in Week 4 against UCLA, but a second-half shutout performance was enough to pull away for a 34-17 win.
With some other teams struggling around the SEC, that victory was enough to give LSU a two-spot bump in On3’s SEC power rankings, which are based on the On3 Massey Ratings — an analytics system.
Now, with a matchup against South Alabama coming up followed by a bye before they get into the meat of SEC play, the Tigers rank No. 7 in the latest On3 SEC power rankings. Here’s what Thomas Goldkamp had to say about them.
Tied for the biggest mover this week, LSU jumps two spots in the SEC Power Rankings after taking down UCLA. The second half proved the difference after a competitive first 30 minutes.
LSU has the pieces to be a contender, but the Tigers continue to play some closer-than-expected games. Whether that continues could determine how real those playoff chances might be. But the next couple weeks should be tune-up — South Alabama and then a bye week — before a home date with a top-10 Ole Miss squad.
LSU still has some clear issues, but the defense looks to be improving while the offense is once again a strength. That matchup against Ole Miss on Oct. 12 will likely tell us whether this team can compete for a playoff spot, but the Tigers have some momentum on their side.
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