LSU entered the Ole Miss contest 4-1 but was out of the national picture. The Tigers took a backseat after they opened the year with the USC loss.
LSU had won four straight with Ole Miss coming to town, but they were four wins over bad teams. They were games that a program like LSU is expected to win and don’t move the needle.
On Saturday night, LSU won a needle mover over No. 9 Ole Miss, bolting the Tigers back into the playoff race and the national conversation. After the win, five of ESPN’s 13 analysts included LSU in their playoff projection on Saturday morning.
Heather Dinich has LSU as the No. 11 seed.
“LSU finally earned a statement win against a ranked opponent, and the Tigers’ loss to USC in the season opener at Las Vegas isn’t something that will keep it out of the playoff,” Dinich wrote.
ESPN’s FPI gives LSU a 26% chance to make the playoff, that’s up from the 14% LSU entered the weekend with.
LSU has a tough three-game stretch coming up and if LSU can get through Arkansas, Texas A&M and Alabama with a 2-1 record, the Tigers will be in a good spot entering late November.
I’d expect LSU to be favored at Arkansas and at home vs. Alabama, but the Tigers will be underdogs on the road at A&M. All three spreads will be close, though.
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