LSU football looks to close the gap between them and Alabama in the SEC West and may have the best defender in the nation in Grant Delpit to help the Tigers cause.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow told the media this season the LSU Tigers are going to score a lot of points. Last year’s LSU team failed to do that at times (see: against Alabama) despite a talented offensive front led by Burrow.
That being said, there’s always time for a change.
This year’s LSU Team promises to be even more talented across the board than last year’s team, especially on the offensive side. The Tigers return seven back on the offensive side, including Burrow and a talented stable of running backs headlined by Clyde Edwards-Helaire. They also bring in five-star true freshman John Emery Jr., who could be the next in line of talented LSU running backs to rise through the ranks early in their career.
On the defensive side, anyone who counts out a secondary led by potential All-America candidate Grant Delpit in the safety position would be foolish. There’s talent in the trenches on both sides, but the big focus will be seeing how the new pieces to the team introduce themselves, and just how fast they can get up to SEC-level speed.
Let’s break down the best and worst-case scenarios for the LSU Tigers this season.
LSU football best-case scenario
- Aug. 31 – vs. Georgia Southern – W
- Sept. 7 – at Texas – W
- Sept. 14 – vs. Northwestern State – W
- Sept. 21 – at Vanderbilt – W
- Oct. 5 – vs. Utah State – W
- Oct. 12 – at Mississippi State – W
- Oct. 19 – vs. Auburn – W
- Oct. 26 – at Alabama – W
- Nov. 9 – at Ole Miss – W
- Nov. 23 – vs. Arkansas – W
- Nov. 30 – vs. Texas A&M – W
Record: 12-0, playing in SEC Championship Game
There are a few games that could be potentially fatal tripping points in the season, all Tigers fans would like nothing more than to upset the highly favored Crimson Tide.
After putting up an embarrassing goose egg at home last season against Nick Saban’s Alabama team, Tigers fans would love nothing more than to embarrass their rivals at home. Even in the best scenario, this remains highly unlikely. However, the best-case scenario hinges on the LSU Tigers finally making the leap, defeating the Tide, and appearing in the SEC Championship on an undefeated run later in the season. Until LSU can put up some real points against an Alabama defense, it will be tough to bet on them.
If LSU can beat Texas for early momentum and then upset Alabama, their chance at making the elusive SEC Championship is all but certain, barring an unexpected loss along the way.
The Texas game stands out among the rest as a game of importance. LSU comes into the season ranked as the No. 6 team in the preseason, with the re-surging Texas program ranked No. 10. On the road, this will be a tough challenge for the Tigers, and whichever team wins the matchup will quickly begin discussing a potential playoff berth.
LSU football worst-case scenario
- Aug. 31 – vs. Georgia Southern – W
- Sept. 7 – at Texas – L
- Sept. 14 – vs. Northwestern State – W
- Sept. 21 – at Vanderbilt – W
- Oct. 5 – vs. Utah State – W
- Oct. 7 – vs. Florida – L
- Oct. 12 – at Mississippi State – W
- Oct. 19 – vs. Auburn – W
- Oct. 26 – at Alabama – L
- Nov. 9 – at Ole Miss – W
- Nov. 23 – vs. Arkansas – W
- Nov. 30 – vs. Texas A&M – W
Record: 9-3, (6-2 SEC)
Naturally, the worst thing a team ranked top-10 in the preseason can do is lose focus and drop unnecessary games, while keeping their eye on too big of a prize.
Even if the LSU Tigers can beat Texas, which thanks to gunslinger Sam Ehlinger is a pretty decent sized if, their schedule still has a few pitfalls left along the way.
The LSU Tigers have a history of losing games that, admittedly, they shouldn’t lose. With the annual focus being on fighting against the big guns of Alabama, sometimes smaller opponents get overlooked and take them by surprise. In 2018, that surprise team was the Florida Gators.
The worst thing that the Tigers could do is lose focus looking at too big of a goal that is being thrown around (College Football Playoff, anyone?) and lose one, two or even three games that they shouldn’t lose.
If Ed Orgeron and this dangerous defense of the No. 6 Tigers team want to make the leap and challenge Alabama for an SEC Championship spot, and a spot in the College Football Playoff, they’ll have to keep a sound mind on their collective shoulders, or face the possibility of losing up to (or more than) the season-killing three games.
Only the 2019 LSU football team can define their fate, but it won’t be an easy road.