Most of the preseason prognosticators are picking LSU to finish 2nd or 3rd in the final, January rankings.
They do understand the personnel losses but cite the fact that most of the superior defense is back. And that the schedule is easier than last year, with just about all the serious competition having to come to Baton Rouge.
And of course the old "reloading not rebuilding" bromide.
I'll dissent from this popular view. I'd estimate the Tigers to finish lower than 7th in the national ranking. Maybe not even in the Top Ten.
Granted the D looks solid. But they lose the heart of the secondary with both starters gone, including the best D back in college last year (Landry).
Three offensive stars gone in Round One of the NFL draft, including the QB, picked first. I understand Flynn is not a bum, but he was second fiddle last year for a reason.
While I don't think the Tiger WR picked in Rd 1 by San Diego was worthy of the honor, it's beside the point.The offense will be off several notches. It has to be.
Add to that the major loss of one of the best Off Coordinators in the biz, Jimbo Fischer, lured to Fla St by a lot of long green.
I'm thinking that LSU will lose one of their early home games, to either Va Tech or S. Carolina. And depending on the posted total in those game the Under will be worth a look.
JMO
They do understand the personnel losses but cite the fact that most of the superior defense is back. And that the schedule is easier than last year, with just about all the serious competition having to come to Baton Rouge.
And of course the old "reloading not rebuilding" bromide.
I'll dissent from this popular view. I'd estimate the Tigers to finish lower than 7th in the national ranking. Maybe not even in the Top Ten.
Granted the D looks solid. But they lose the heart of the secondary with both starters gone, including the best D back in college last year (Landry).
Three offensive stars gone in Round One of the NFL draft, including the QB, picked first. I understand Flynn is not a bum, but he was second fiddle last year for a reason.
While I don't think the Tiger WR picked in Rd 1 by San Diego was worthy of the honor, it's beside the point.The offense will be off several notches. It has to be.
Add to that the major loss of one of the best Off Coordinators in the biz, Jimbo Fischer, lured to Fla St by a lot of long green.
I'm thinking that LSU will lose one of their early home games, to either Va Tech or S. Carolina. And depending on the posted total in those game the Under will be worth a look.
JMO