Tag: LSU Football Roundtable

Staff predictions as LSU faces Texas A&M for top spot in the SEC

Does our staff think the Tigers can claim first place in the SEC on Saturday night in College Station?

LSU is riding a six-game winning streak since a loss to USC in Week 1, delivering big SEC wins in the last two weeks against Ole Miss at home in overtime and Arkansas on the road in blowout fashion.

Now, it’s time for what could be the toughest test of the season so far as the Tigers head to College Station to face Texas A&M. LSU and the Aggies are the lone unbeaten teams in SEC conference play, and the winner will claim sole possession of first place in the league.

The Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff race, and a road win on Saturday would put them in a pretty strong position. Let’s find out if our staff at LSU Wire thinks they can get the job done.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

LSU looks like a pretty complete football team right now. While the offense lacks some of the explosion that last year’s boasted, it remains effective and is now paired with a rapidly improving defense that has played very well over the last few weeks. That makes me feel pretty good about the Tigers against an Aggies that bring a talented defensive front to the table but has had some issues on offense, though things seem to be trending in the right direction with Conner Weigman back in the fold.

Prediction: LSU 31, Texas A&M 27

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU has a chance to make another statement on Saturday. The Tigers are rolling after upsetting Ole Miss and beating Arkansas by 24 points on the road. A win would mark seven in a row for LSU and put LSU in a great spot for the 12-team playoff. LSU is an underdog this week, but there’s a chance LSU may be favored in all remaining games. This will be the toughest road environment Garrett Nussmeier has seen, but he’s a veteran and should be ready for it. A&M will make it tough to move the ball, but LSU comes up with key late down conversions to win.

Prediction: LSU 27, Texas A&M 23

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

BIG game for the Tigers this weekend in College Station. I am choosing to be very optimistic about this game. Playing at Texas A&M is one of the toughest atmospheres in college football but I believe the Tigers are up to the task this weekend.

Prediction: LSU 35, Texas A&M 21

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 31, Texas A&M 24

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Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Staff predictions ahead of LSU’s Week 8 road trip against Arkansas

Can the Tigers avoid a letdown on the road against the Razorbacks?

LSU captured one of the most impactful wins of the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era on Saturday night, upsetting a top-10 Ole Miss team in overtime to move to 5-1 on the season and put itself back in the College Football Playoff picture.

But the road doesn’t get much easier from here, and now, the Tigers are tasked with avoiding a letdown on the road against an Arkansas team that’s having a stronger start to the year than many expected.

The Razorbacks are 4-2 and fresh off a bye week that followed their upset win over then-No. 4 Tennessee. They’re looking to take down their second top-10 opponent in a row on Saturday night in Fayetteville.

Here’s how our staff sees that game playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

The Hogs have managed to give LSU fits in each of the last two years, but they’re searching for their first win in the series since 2021. I think the health of quarterback Taylen Green plays a major factor here, but he’s a big-time weapon on offense if he’s ready to go. I still have a lot more confidence in LSU’s defense after the way it played last week, however, and while Arkansas’ defense slowed down a Tennessee group that may have some issues, I don’t think it will have quite as much success against the Tigers.

Prediction: LSU 28, Arkansas 21

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU is back on the road this week, traveling to Arkansas after upsetting Ole Miss. Arkansas is coming off a bye, but the Razorbacks’ last time out, they pulled a top 10 upset off their own over Tennessee. Arkansas’ preseason win total was 4.5, but the Razorbacks already have four wins and Sam Pittman is coaching his way off the hot seat. Arkansas has the type of offense that can hurt LSU. The Hogs are explosive on the ground with a rushing threat at QB. WR Andrew Armstong will test LSU’s secondary too.  Arkansas will score some points, but so will LSU. Arkansas will keep it close early, but LSU will take advantage of a questionable secondary late.

Prediction: LSU 37, Arkansas 31

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

The Tigers have got to be careful in this game against the Razorbacks. They can not suffer from a hangover after winning a hard fought game against Ole Miss in overtime. This is the SEC. You are going to be taken to your limit every week. With that being said, I think LSU will respond well and win this game.

Prediction: LSU 35, Arkansas 21

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 33, Arkansas 24

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Staff predictions for LSU’s crucial Week 7 matchup against Ole Miss

After a bye week, the Tigers are gearing up for one of the most important games of the entire season.

After having a bye week to tune things up and get healthy, it’s time for a matchup that could likely determine the trajectory of the rest of LSU’s season.

The Tigers host Ole Miss in Week 7 on Saturday, and they’re looking to avenge a loss in Oxford last season while avoiding falling to the Rebels in Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2008.

Both teams enter with a loss, and the loser will have an essentially non-existent margin for error if it wants to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. Here’s how our staff sees this game playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

It’s hard to escape the feeling that we’re in store for another shootout this year. Both these teams have improved defensively, but I remain skeptical about exactly how much. Meanwhile, Garrett Nussmeier and Jaxson Dart are statistically speaking the top two quarterbacks in the SEC. I think Ole Miss is the slightly more complete team at the moment, but night games in Death Valley are never easy to win. I’ve got the Tigers in another thriller.

Prediction: LSU 35, Ole Miss 31

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU has a chance to re-enter the national picture with a win over Ole Miss on Saturday. In some ways, it’s a must-win. The Tigers already have one loss and this is a chance to secure a top-25 victory against a highly-regarded opponent. LSU allowed 55 points to Kiffin and the Rebels last year. The defense will be tested again, but LSU head coach Brian Kelly feels the unit is in a better spot this year. LSU needs to come out and get a few stops early, maybe even force a turnover. If this becomes a track meet, I don’t like LSU’s chances. LSU has the talent to win this one, but I’m going with Ole Miss. The Ole Miss defensive front will give LSU’s OL just enough trouble to keep the Tigers off schedule and Jaxson Dart will connect with Tre Harris for a few explosive plays.

Prediction: Ole Miss 34, LSU 28

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

I think this game is going to be a shootout. There will be a plethora of offense as both defenses will be gashed by the other team’s high-powered offensive attack. I think Garrett Nussmeier will outshine Jaxson Dart and the Rebels under the lights of Tiger Stadium.

Prediction: LSU 49, Ole Miss 42

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 37, Ole Miss 36

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Staff grades for LSU’s 2024 season entering the bye week

Have the Tigers managed to meet expectations through five weeks of the 2024 season?

We’re five weeks into the 2024 season, and for LSU and coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], a relatively familiar script has played out.

For the fifth consecutive season, the Tigers lost their season-opener to USC. That marked three neutral site opener losses to begin Kelly’s tenure in Baton Rouge.

But since then, LSU has turned things around, reeling off four wins in a row as it sits at 4-1 with Week 6 off before a crucial home matchup against Ole Miss, which lost its first game of the year on Saturday.

The Tigers entered the year expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot, and that remains on the table, despite an early loss.

Given the level of expectation, here’s how our staff grades the Tigers after five games as they enter the bye week.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

Entering the season, my concerns about the Tigers centered pretty much entirely around the defense. While the offense lost quite a bit of talent, including a Heisman-winning quarterback in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], I expected [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] to lead another productive unit. That has mostly been the case, even if the offense lacks explosion at times, and while the defense remains the Achilles heel, it does seem to have progressed at least somewhat from 2023, particularly when it comes to the front seven (though that unit is pretty banged up already). The early loss was disappointing, but the Tigers have mostly met expectations so far.

Grade: B

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

The USC loss was a tough way to open the year, but LSU remains in the playoff hunt after four straight wins. The Tigers get a bye before a conference showdown with Ole Miss. Next week’s game should tell us a lot about this LSU team. This is a chance to get a signature win at home. A lot of the questions that were there at the start of the year remain there now. The defense is improving, but far from perfect. Injuries to [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] have put a strain on the front seven and LSU is still figuring out how to best use its young secondary. The defense should continue to get better, but we don’t know if the progress will be fast enough. On offense, LSU continues to roll. Garrett Nussmeier looks impressive throwing to a deep group of pass catchers. But the offense will have to take it up another notch if LSU wants to make the playoff.

Grade: B+

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

This team leaves a lot of “meat on the bone.” So to speak. The Tigers are still struggling to run the ball, although [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] was a breath of fresh air last week. The defense is still nowhere near the level it needs to be if LSU wants to be one of the top SEC teams. The injuries are beginning to pile up as well. I believe this team has not reached its potential yet. 4-1 is a solid record, but it should be 5-0. Now, the Tigers get a bye week before welcoming Lane Kiffin into Baton Rouge. A win in this game may help propel this team to the next level.

Grade: C+

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Staff predictions as LSU welcomes South Alabama to town in Week 5

Can LSU avoid an upset against a red-hot Group of Five offense?

After pulling away in the second half for a three-score victory over UCLA on Saturday, LSU is back in action at home on Saturday as it takes on South Alabama in another non-conference matchup.

While the matchup against a Sun Belt team wasn’t one that drew a lot of attention coming into the year, it looks a bit more interesting now given the Tigers’ struggles on defense.

The Jaguars are coming off back-to-back high-scoring wins, totaling 135 combined points over the last two weeks. The Tigers will hope to avoid being this offense’s next victim as they prepare for their final tuneup before SEC play kicks into high gear.

Here’s how our staff sees this one playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

This game is on my radar a lot more than it was just a few weeks ago considering what South Alabama has been able to accomplish on the offensive side of the ball. Granted, this is still a team that lost to North Texas and Ohio, so I don’t see it having the juice to pull the upset on the road. Will this game be much more stressful than Tigers fans would hope? Probably.

Prediction: LSU 45, South Alabama 24

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU’s defense played to its standard in the second half against UCLA. The Tigers have another test now with red hot South Alabama coming to town. This will be our first look at LSU without Harold Perkins. Hopefully for LSU’s sake, that doesn’t matter much here. LSU is the more talented team and LSU’s offense should have its way with the Jaguars’ defense. South Alabama scores a few and keeps it interesting early, but Nussmeier and the LSU offense pull away in the third.

Prediction: LSU 47, South Alabama 24

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

This is a trap game for LSU. Just ask Oklahoma State. They welcomed the Jags into Stillwater last year and lost 33-7 to USA. This is a team that can’t be overlooked or we will have a re-run of Troy in 2017. I think LSU’s offense has the ability to score at the blink of an eye, but anything can happen in a trap game.

Prediction: LSU 49, South Alabama 35

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 47, South Alabama 28

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Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Staff predictions for LSU’s Week 4 game vs. UCLA

The Tigers return home for Week 4 where they’re a heavy favorite against a 1-1 UCLA team.

After surviving a scare against South Carolina in which it needed to overcome a 17-point deficit in the first half, the Tigers return home for a matchup that shouldn’t be quite so tricky.

UCLA is coming to Baton Rouge toting a 1-1 record and looking to bounce back after an ugly 42-13 loss at home to Indiana. The Bruins are led by first-year coach DeShaun Foster, who was hired late in the carousel cycle after Chip Kelly left to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

This is a rebuilding UCLA team, and the Tigers enter as more than a three-touchdown favorite, according to BetMGM. Here’s how our staff sees it playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

I have my questions about the Tigers through three weeks, and I think this team could have some issues in its tougher SEC games. But UCLA, in its current rebuilding state, is not really in a position to stress those weaknesses on Saturday. I see the Tigers being able to score in this one, and I doubt the Bruins will be able to say the same.

Prediction: LSU 41, UCLA 17

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU returns home after a thrilling win against South Carolina. There are still issues to iron out, but we saw progress in Week 3. Caden Durham brought life to the run game, and LSU’s defense made enough plays to offset the big plays it allowed. LSU is a heavy favorite in this one, and I don’t expect any surprises. Garrett Nussmeier has another big day and the defense clamps down on a struggling UCLA offense.

Prediction: LSU 38, UCLA 17

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

LSU gets revenge against the Bruins from their previous loss. Garrett Nussmeier throws for 5 TDs.

Prediction: LSU 42, UCLA 28

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 40, UCLA 21

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Staff predictions for LSU’s Week 3 showdown at South Carolina

Here’s how our staff sees LSU’s SEC opener against the Gamecocks playing out.

LSU’s 44-21 win over Nicholls may have raised more questions about this team than it answered, but it will have to do in terms of a tuneup.

Now, the 1-1 Tigers hit the road to kick off SEC play against South Carolina as they make their first trip to Columbia since 2008. ESPN’s College GameDay will be in town for a game that looks a lot more intriguing than it did a week ago following the Gamecocks decisive 31-6 win at Kentucky.

LSU will be a much tougher opponent, but coach Brian Kelly’s squad also has its own issues, particularly in the run game and on defense. Here’s how our staff sees the Tigers’ SEC opener playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

This one feels pretty tough to project. The Tigers have pretty clear problems that were tested by an FCS opponent, which raises concerns entering this SEC opener. The Gamecocks have been fantastic defensively so far this season, but they haven’t faced an offense that can test it like LSU’s can. I’m also skeptical that LaNorris Sellers is poised to take advantage of issues in the secondary after two passing performances that left a lot to be desired. I ultimately like the Tigers to win and cover on the road.

Prediction: LSU 31, South Carolina 21

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

Questions surround LSU as it enters conference play. Can they run the ball? Can Nussmeier push it down the field? Can the defense overcome the loss of Guillory? Long term, I don’t know. I expect LSU to roll this weekend, though. LSU will get the ground game going against a Gamecock defense that’s struggled against the run and Nussmeier will make enough plays to give LSU the points it needs.

Prediction: LSU 34, South Carolina 23

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

I think this game will actually be close until the Tigers get a clutch interception to give them a 10-point lead late.

Prediction: LSU 38, South Carolina 28

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 34, South Carolina 24

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LSU Wire Roundtable: Staff makes its picks for season-opener against USC in Las Vegas

Here’s how we see LSU’s season-opener against the Trojans playing out.

After months of discussion, practice and waiting, it’s finally time to begin the 2024 college football season.

LSU will be opening its campaign in the standalone Sunday night game in Week 1 as it heads to Las Vegas to take on USC at Allegiant Stadium in a battle of preseason ranked opponents that still face quite a few questions entering the season.

The winner will get a nice springboard into a tough conference schedule as the two College Football Playoff hopefuls look to separate themselves early. The loser will have to overcome an early slump as the schedule doesn’t get any easier.

Here’s how our staff here at LSU Wire sees the game vs. the Trojans playing out as the Tigers look to capture their first season-opening win since 2019.

Tyler Nettuno, Managing Editor

This may be the toughest game on the entire Week 1 slate to predict. Both these teams have so many questions, and they come in similar areas. USC did more in the offseason to improve a shoddy defense than LSU did, and both have questions on offense as Heisman-winning quarterbacks move on. But even with the losses, I believe in this LSU offense and [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. I’m skeptical about the rest, but that’s enough for me to give the Tigers the edge here.

Prediction: LSU 31, USC 24

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

LSU hasn’t won a season opener since 2019. LSU’s managed 10-win in Brian Kelly’s first two years, but two season-opening losses to Florida State put LSU behind the eight ball. This year, LSU is looking to flip that script and buy some margin for error with a Week 1 win. Replacing [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] won’t come easy, but Garrett Nussmeier is ready for his chance to lead the offense. The defense will struggle, but Blake Baker’s aggressive play-calling will lead to some negative plays for USC.

Prediction: LSU 31, USC 26

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

I am a firm believer in the LSU offense this year and I think that Blake Baker will improve the defense in a huge way this fall.

Prediction: LSU 56, USC 35

Composite Prediction

Prediction: LSU 39, USC 28

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LSU Wire Roundtable: Predictions for ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin

Here’s how our staff sees Garrett Nussmeier’s first start playing out.

LSU will look to cap off back-to-back 10-win seasons on Monday as it takes on Wisconsin in a New Year’s Day ReliaQuest Bowl matchup.

While the Tigers will be without starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who opted out, it will have potential first-round receivers [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], as well as defensive tackle [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag], who makes his return from injury following surgery in October.

The Badgers sit at 7-5 in what has been a somewhat disappointing Year 1 for Luke Fickell, and they’re dealing with some opt-outs of their own, headlined by star running back Braelon Allen.

Here’s how our staff thinks that bowl matchup will play out as quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] prepares for his first career start.

LSU Wire Roundtable: Staff predictions for LSU’s regular season finale against Texas A&M

The Aggies are looking to replicate last season’s upset over the Tigers.

It hasn’t quite been the season LSU fans hoped for, but coach Brian Kelly’s team will look to close the season out strong with another 9-3 regular season as it plays host to Texas A&M.

This Aggies team enters at 7-4 led by an interim coach in Elijah Robinson after firing Jimbo Fisher midway through the season. They’re looking to replicate last year’s season-ending upset in College Station as 5-7 TAMU stunned LSU and ended its College Football Playoff hopes.

The Tigers will hope to avoid that result this time around on their home field. Here’s how our staff sees this one playing out.