Boot meets ball in the Lane Kiffin era two weeks from Saturday.
The Tigers are ranked right around the postseason bubble in most of the preseason polls and prognostications. It’s a schedule front loaded with Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas A&M with a dizzying finish that includes back-to-back home games with Alabama and Texas followed by a trip to Tennessee.
Mississippi State and Auburn return to the schedule, too, in what figures to be a wild debut for Kiffin in Baton Rouge. We asked our team at 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge to lay out their record predictions.
Jacob Hester, Co-Host, Off the Bench – 10-2. LSU will lose one of those 50/50 games on the schedule, then I think there’s a slip-up in a game they probably should win. Maybe A&M after an emotional Ole Miss game, or even at Auburn, because Jordan-Hare can be a nightmare. Either way, 10-2 and a playoff team.
Charles Hanagriff, Co-Host, Live at Lunch – There are 5 games LSU is heavily favored to win (La Tech, McNeese, Kentucky, Miss St, and Arkansas). There are 2 games where LSU is a significant favorite but the opponent has enough to pull an upset if the game plays out a certain way (Clemson and Auburn).
At the moment, I think LSU will win all of those games.
The remaining 5 (Ole Miss, A&M, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee) will likely see the Tigers as favorites or underdogs of less than a touchdown. LSU’s record in one score games will be the difference in whether Lane Kiffin’s first season is considered a success. 3-2 or 2-3 in those 5?
I’ll say 2-3, for an overall record of 9-3, but the difference in that and 10 wins (and a playoff slot) will probably be less than a touchdown.
But Hunt wouldn’t accept my original prediction of 9.5 – 2.5.
Matt Moscona, Host, After Further Review – Making the CFP is the baseline expectation for Lane Kiffin in his first season. A $50 million roster carries with it the weight of lofty expectation. The schedule, however, is littered with land mines. If LSU can split against Ole Miss and Texas A&M and then again with Alabama and Texas, that’s 10-2 and a playoff berth. Avoiding the tripwire against Clemson, Auburn and Tennessee is tricky. My guess is they get caught somewhere along the way and finish 9-3 in the first season with nine league games.
Hunt Palmer, Host, The Hunt Palmer Show – They won’t survive September unbeaten and won’t sweep the Alabama-Texas back-to-back. Can they sweep the rest of the slate? Not with my concerns at defensive tackle and offensive line. I’ve got LSU 9-3.
Alondra Villarreal, Audio Producer, Off the Bench – I trust Lane Kiffin and Charle Weis Jr. They’ll fix LSU’s offense, and Blake Baker’s defense will take another step in the right direction. The schedule is too tough to go undefeated, but I think 10-2 is right there for them. LSU will make the College Football Playoff.
Taylor Sharp, Video Producer, Off the Bench – 10-2. LSU drastically improved their roster and upgraded the coaching staff in a big way. There are just too many tough games to go unblemished. They lose to Texas at home and drop another toss up game. LSU should be in the playoff mix at the end of the season.
Jordan Kitchens, Audio Producer, The Hunt Palmer Show – LSU will lose one of those 50/50 games early on the schedule. Then, I think there’s a slip-up in a game they probably should win. Maybe it’s A&M after an emotional Ole Miss game, or even at Auburn, because Jordan-Hare can be a nightmare. Either way, LSU is 10-2 and a playoff team.
Matthew Musso, Audio Producer, After Further Review – 9-3. I think LSU splits the Ole Miss and A&M games. Plus, I think a 2-2 record awaits in November.
Paul O’Neill, Video Producer, After Further Review – 9-3. There are still a few concerns at certain positions that could cost you a game or two early. Tigers end the season strong but drop one in November.
