In nine days, Tiger Stadium will fill with more than 100,000 fans.
The band will play. The whistle will blow. The ball will be kicked, and courtroom drama will fade either out of mind or at least to the very back. After a particularly long summer in LSU athletics, it’ll be time to play some football.
First-year coach Lane Kiffin and his staff inspire a lot of confidence. He and Charlie Weis Jr. have produced exceptional offensive numbers over their time together. Blake Baker’s defense has improved each of his two seasons in Baton Rouge.
The roster boasts draftable talent like Jordan Seaton, Trey’Dez Green, Ty Benefield and eventually D.J. Pickett. There are proven SEC commodities like Whit Weeks, TJ Dottery, Braelin Moore and Tre Wilson.
There are also reasonable questions about cornerback depth, defensive tackle youth, a go-to wide receiver and the offensive line’s ability to move people.
There are strengths and flaws on paper, but we’ll learn plenty more next Saturday. Then there’s the rest of September which shouldn’t be short on drama. Neither will November.
Here’s my take on how things unfold for Kiffin and Co. in year one.
Sept.5 – CLEMSON: The vibes around Clemson aren’t good. Chris Vizzina has struggled in camp at quarterback, and the strength of the defense was gutted by the draft. LSU is loaded with transfers. Clemson doesn’t take them. It’s a 1-0 start for LSU.
Sept. 12 – LA TECH: The Bulldogs hung around with LSU last year holding the Tigers to 23 points. Not this time. LSU rolls to 2-0.
Sept. 19 – @ OLE MISS: Ole Miss is positioned to expose some of LSU weaknesses. Will Echols and that Rebel defensive line could be a problem. Are LSU’s freshmen defensive tackles ready to stop Kewan Lacy? And is Trinidad’s Chambliss’s mobility a problem for Blake Baker? In that environment, I think Ole Miss rises up in a massive revenge spot. LSU is 2-1.
Sept. 26 – TEXAS A&M: Quarterback Marcel Reed has toyed with LSU’s defense for two years. He hasn’t really toyed with anyone else. The Aggies have to like this spot on the schedule after an emotional week for Kiffin and LSU’s program. Still, is A&M about to empty Death Valley in back-to-back seasons? I have my doubts. Tigers by 10. 3-1 record.
Oct. 3 – MCNEESE: Plenty of reserves will play. Plenty of kiddos will come and leave at halftime. FCS vs. FBS is not a great use of time. LSU is 4-1.
Oct. 10 – @ KENTUCKY: I have no idea what to expect from first-year coach Will Stein’s Kentucky team. I think LSU is focused after a pseudo-BYE and rolls the Wildcats on the Bluegrass using a great defensive effort. 5-1.
Oct. 17 – MISSISSIPPI STATE: After two years off, LSU and State get back together. It’ll be an early kick in Death Valley, and Kamario Taylor is the kind of athlete that can give you trouble. I just don’t see a State defense that has ranked 16th and 15th in the SEC the last two seasons slowing LSU down in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are 6-1.
Oct. 24 – @ AUBURN: Tricky spot for both teams. Auburn is coming off a trip to Athens, and LSU is playing its eighth straight week. There’s a little continuity on the Auburn defense with potentially nine players back from last year under defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. Byrum Brown is a load at quarterback. He’s going to run for a ton of yards this year. Can LSU out-talent Auburn on the road? I think this is a trip up spot for LSU on the Plains. Tigers hit the open date 6-2.
Nov. 7 – ALABAMA: Baker mostly stymied the Ty Simpson offense a season ago, but LSU’s offense didn’t have a pulse. He’ll have plenty of tape on quarterback Keelon Russell by November. Both teams will be coming off a bye and could easily be playing for their CFP lives. In Tiger Stadium, I’ll take the Tigers. 7-2.
Nov. 14 – TEXAS: This is the most talented opponent on LSU’s schedule. Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Collin Simmons and Trevor Goosby could all be early picks. With the cooling weather and my 7-2 projection, Tiger Stadium could be at its absolute best, but I don’t see a sweep of Alabama and Texas. I think this is where the third loss comes.
Nov. 21 – @ TENNESSEE: And if the third loss has shown up, this becomes a brutal spot on Rocky Top. The Volunteers are going with a true freshman quarterback in Faizon Brandon. These two offenses will be playing at warp speed. I’ll take LSU’s defense to make one more play against the young signal caller. LSU moves to 8-3.
Nov. 28 @ ARKANSAS: It’ll be hunting and basketball time in Fayetteville by the time LSU shows up for a morning kickoff. I think LSU smacks the Hogs to finish the regular season, but the Tigers are just on the outside of the playoff picture even with wins over Clemson, A&M, Alabama and Tennessee.
