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10 games that will shape the 2019 College Football Playoff picture

By Jordan Alexis

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs gets ready to snap the ball during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 9, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia won 20-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Lamont Gaillard #53 of the Georgia Bulldogs gets ready to snap the ball during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 9, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia won 20-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Week 2: LSU at Texas – Sept. 7

Both Texas and LSU are surely tired of living in the shadow of their dominant conference rivals Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively. But before they can slay those two beasts, they need to get through each other first.

Sam Ehlinger and the Longhorns are coming off a nice 10-4 campaign that ended with them beating another SEC foe in the Georgia Bulldogs. It is time for them to take the next step and finally regain their status as a perennial powerhouse, and games like this are the way to do it. Look for Ehlinger to be catalysts for the Longhorns run and game as a big performance and victory could start fueling his Heisman campaign.

For the Tigers, they’ve never lacked the necessary talent at most position groups to compete with the best, but the quarterback has been a constant struggle. However, things took a turn in the right direction when Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow arrived on campus. Burrow did not light up the stat sheet, but he managed the offense and got better as the season went on. With what the Tigers bring on defense led by Grant Delpit, an above-average offense can make this team very dangerous.

A key matchup to watch in this game will be LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton versus Texas wideout Collin Johnson. Fulton could be a day one draft pick, and Johnson is one of the most physically imposing receivers you’ll ever see.

These two teams undoubtedly are looking to make a run at their first CFP appearance and will need this victory as a substantial resume boost. The Longhorns and Tigers will start as preseason top 10 teams so this is shaping up to be an epic matchup in Austin.