For a program that gets as much attention as the LSU Tigers, the results haven’t been there the past several seasons. Working at what he calls his dream job, Ed Orgeron is looking to move the Bayou Bengals back into the upper echelon of college football. There are some stumbling blocks on the Tigers path to the CFP, most notably Alabama and a brutal SEC West schedule. But LSU is trending up after winning 10 games for the first time in five years and ending the 2018 season ranked among the top-10 for the first time since 2010.
There was plenty of uncertainty surrounding the program at this time last year. Orgeron was on the hot seat and the quarterback situation was unstable. One year later the Tigers are a balanced, experienced team with sights on its first CFP berth. A change in offensive philosophy should make them more dangerous but they play in the SEC West, which impacts their chances of reaching the playoff.
College Football Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
LSU Tigers To Make 4-team Playoff
Yes +500
No -800
Dipping into the NFL coaching ranks, the Tigers plucked Saints assistant Joe Brady to run the passing game. That’s a clear sign that LSU is ready to abandon the power run game that was a staple under Les Miles. They have an experienced quarterback in Joe Burrow to run the offense and the Tigers are looking to continue the momentum from their first New Year’s Six bowl game. This is a good club, but playing in the toughest division in college football isn’t going to help in their quest for the CFP.
2019 LSU Tigers Schedule
Week 1: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles
Week 2: at Texas Longhorns
Week 3: vs. Northwestern State Demons
Week 4: at Vanderbilt Commodores
Week 5: OFF
Week 6: vs. Utah State Aggies
Week 7: vs. Florida Gators
Week 8: at Mississippi State Bulldogs
Week 9: vs. Auburn Tigers
Week 10: OFF
Week 11: at Alabama Crimson Tide
Week 12: at Ole Miss Rebels
Week 13: vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Week 14: vs. Texas A&M Aggies
LSU Tigers Schedule Analysis
If the Tigers make the playoff they will certainly have earned it. They have five road dates with two of those against Texas in a Week 2 non-conference mega showdown and an early November clash in Tuscaloosa. The good news is LSU has a week off to prepare for the Tide. The bad news is so does Alabama. Oh, and there’s a trip to Oxford the week after the Bama game. Welcome to the SEC.
LSU is certainly good enough to beat every team on its schedule, but with so many talented opponents the Tigers won’t win them all. Florida, Auburn and Texas AM all visit Death Valley and to have a shot at reaching the CFP the Tigers have to win them all, and I don’t see that happening. Georgia is off the slate this year but a likely opponent in the SEC title game. Realistically another 10-win season is the ceiling.
LSU Tigers Season Preview
Last season the Tigers minimized mistakes and did just enough offensively to win 10 games. The hiring of Brady is a sign that LSU is joining the rest of the college football world with a wide open spread attack. That suits Burrow just fine. He’s on board with the new scheme and says he’s been running that style of football since junior high school. And Brady’s transition to the college game will be helped with plenty of personnel returning.
Burrow wasn’t good enough to land the starting gig at Ohio State, but he was the perfect fit for a team that needed stability at quarterback. He threw for 2,894 yards with 16 touchdowns last year and he limited the turnovers with just five picks. The refined passing game will help Burrow’s accuracy issues. He completed just 58 percent of his throws in 2018. Having the top six receivers from last season back will help as will a backfield featuring the No. 2 ranked running back prospect John Emery Jr.
Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has a lot of toys to play with and the Tigers have the potential to be better in 2019. The unit permitted just 338.7 yards and 21.8 points per game, and those numbers were skewed when they allowed 541 yards in a 74-72 seven-overtime loss to Texas AM. It will be a challenge for a team as good as LSU to win 10 games, that’s how it goes in the SEC West. Overall good health and a few breaks could set the Tigers up for a CFP run, but again, it’s the SEC West.
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