The Florida State Seminoles (1-0) and LSU Tigers (0-0) meet at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans Sunday for a primetime showdown. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Florida State vs. LSU odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Seminoles made some nice progress last season under coach Mike Norvell, starting to show some signs of life. It’s strange seeing FSU unranked going into a season opener, but we’re starting to get used to it lately. QB Jordan Travis is a budding star, totaling 2,069 yards (1,539 passing, 530 rushing) and 22 TDs (15 passing, 7 rushing) in 2021.
FSU opened with a cupcake win last week, literally running over Duquesne 47-7. Behind RB Treshaun Ward (127 rushing yards, 2 TDs, Trey Benson (105, 1) and Lawrance Toafili (101, 1) the Seminoles finished with 406 yards on the ground to the Dukes’ 93. QB Jordan Travis also had a rushing touchdown, while completing 11 of 15 passes for 207 yards without a TD.
As for LSU, the coach Brian Kelly era begins for the Bayou Bengals not far from their Baton Rouge home with this contest in New Orleans. It’s a neutral-site game, but really, it will be a home game for LSU.
Tigers WR Kayshon Boutte (509 receiving yards and 9 TDs in 6 games last season) is back from a devastating leg injury. Plus, RB John Emery returns after sitting out his junior year due to being academically ineligible. The duo should give the Tigers some much-needed pop downfield.
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Florida State vs. LSU odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Florida State +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | LSU -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Florida State +3.5 (-117) | LSU -3.5 (-103)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Florida State vs. LSU picks and predictions
Prediction
LSU 29, Florida State 23
Money line
LSU (-170) is essentially playing a home game. Expect the Tigers faithful – after a few adult beverages on Bourbon Street prior to kickoff – to come out in full force to fill Caesars Superdome. It’s gonna be a wild scene, and the Tigers are quite the attractive play on the money line, especially if you are nervous about fiddling around with the 3 and a hook on the spread.
Against the spread
LSU -3.5 (-103) is worth a roll of the dice, although it would be much more attractive as a flat 3, or 2.5. Kelly will be looking for a strong start in his 1st game at the helm for LSU, and this team has a big-time pass rush – with DE BJ Ojulari and DT Maason Smith – that will give the FSU offense fits all night.
Over/Under
OVER 50.5 (-112) is worth a look.
LSU will be looking to start strong, and it has 2 key skill position players back to give the offense a much-needed injection of excitement. The Over has hit in 5 of the past 6 neutral-site games for LSU, while hitting at a 10-3-1 clip in the past 14 non-conference outings.
The Over is 7-2 in the past 9 neutral-site games for Florida State, while going 12-4 in the past 16 non-conference games.
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