The LSU fighting Tigers step into Southeastern Conference play this weekend as they host Mississippi State in Death Valley. But are they ready? I'm not sold.
Either way, Brian Kelly's squad doesn't have a choice. It's time for the Bayou Bengals to kick SEC off play against the Bulldogs. Let’s hope it goes better than the last time that was the case.
Through the first two weeks of the college football season LSU had an embarrassing, 24-23 loss to Florida State, then a blowout, 65-17 win over Southern University. Truth be told, we still know very little about this LSU team. Check that – we know a lot, we just don't feel good about what we know.
Mike Leach and the MSU bulldogs come into Baton Rouge just two years removed from whipping LSU with a record-setting passing performance in the season opener. There were no cupcake early-season games that season due to the pandemic. The air raid offense will again be problematic for a Tigers defense that looked leaky in Week 1. This will be the key to the game. MSU quarterback Will Rogers will be public enemy No. 1 for the LSU defense. If the Tiger D can limit Rogers through the air, LSU can have success.
The matchup that concerns me, and will concern me all season, is the purple and gold offensive line against whatever front 7 they’re lined up against. Last week the front line bullied an outmatched Southern group. This week it’s an SEC-caliber pass rush lined up across from you. LSU shuffled the OL a bit last week, most notably shifting Garrett Dellinger from center to guard, and moving Charles Turner over the ball. It worked in a matchup where just about everything would’ve worked, but you can only make so many adjustments to mask a clear weakness.
Oddsmakers have MSU favored by 2 points on the road. That tells me a few things. In some ways handicappers are saying the Bulldogs are 5 points better than LSU, as home-field advantage will typically be worth about 3 points on the line. This is a game that I would stay far, far away from if you’re looking for a safe bet.
Lagniappe: I think MSU wins this game, and LSU is going to have a wild ride this year. The blame for that can’t all be laid at Brian Kelly’s feet as he works to rebuild this program. Do me a favor, LSU fans: Don't freak out if LSU falls to State and then perhaps beats Auburn in a couple of weeks. Judge this team by how they improve over the course of the season, not week to week. If you take that approach, you will save yourself a bit of sanity.
My score prediction: MSU 31, LSU 28
