What is the biggest trap game on LSU football’s schedule this season?
LSU football can repeat as national champions, but the Bayou Bengals must avoid the trap game.
Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers should be one of the 10 best teams in the country again in 2020. While they might be closer to No. 10 than No. 1, as they lost so much talent to the NFL Draft and key coaches to better jobs, LSU is certainly capable of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl and contending for another SEC West title. From there, it’s all about matchups in the College Football Playoff push.
As we look at LSU’s 2020 schedule, which could totally change in the coming weeks because of the coronavirus, there are several intriguing games on the slate. LSU hosts the Big 12’s Texas Longhorns on Sept. 12. The Bayou Bengals also face the cross-divisional rival Florida Gators on Oct. 10 in Gainesville, but host the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on Nov. 7.
While those are the three marquee games on the Tigers’ slate, there are plenty of other important games, such as their final two on the year at the Auburn Tigers on Nov. 21 and at the Texas A&M Aggies on Nov. 28. However, there is one major trap game on the schedule, and it’s against a team the Bayou Bengals don’t play very often in the South Carolina Gamecocks.
A disparity of urgency between LSU, South Carolina makes this a trap game.
Is there a chance LSU is still undefeated when South Carolina comes to town on Nov. 14? Yes, as the Bayou Bengals will have won their three biggest games of the year already: At home vs. the Texas, at Florida and home vs. Alabama. LSU will be something like 9-0 overall and 6-0 in SEC play. If that’s the case, then overlooking a middle team like South Carolina may not happen after all.
However, LSU may drop one of their three signature games earlier in the campaign. Texas, Florida and Alabama are all capable of getting to the College Football Playoff this season. With two more top-25 teams left on the slate with Auburn and Texas A&M on the road, “senior night” may be of tragic consequences if the Bayou Bengals aren’t ready for Will Muschamp‘s feisty Gamecocks.
As we get to that part of the season, Muschamp will be fighting to keep his job at South Carolina. The Gamecocks can’t miss out on a bowl game for the second consecutive year, no matter how much faith South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner has in his head football coach. For that reason, finishing at or above .500 is paramount for Muschamp is he wants sixth year on the job.
Last season, we saw a bad South Carolina team go into Sanford Stadium and stun SEC East rival Georgia in double overtime. The Dawgs turned the ball over a ton, while South Carolina played its best game of the season. With Ryan Hilinski back as the South Carolina starting quarterback, he’ll have more in-game experience than what LSU will have in new starter Myles Brennan.
Though we shouldn’t expect the LSU offense to fall off a cliff, it won’t be nearly as prolific as it was a season ago. For the Bayou Bengals to repeat as national champions, the defense will need to take charge, as that will give Brennan the best chance to be successful in his first year as the starter. Because of attrition, this is why LSU may drop a few games in conference play this fall.
While losing SEC games to the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, as they’re firmly in the upper half of the SEC with LSU and Georgia, falling at home on “senior night” to a South Carolina team that might not even get to a bowl game could be of disastrous consequences for the LSU program. This game has trap game written all over it.
If LSU isn’t prepared for a desperate South Carolina team, they may drop their final home game.
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