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Story Archives: Crystal ball calls
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Crystal ball calls
It's time to bring out the ol' crystal ball again.
And I'm afraid it may be the only crystal ball bringing brought out for Tiger fans this season.
Winning two national championships in a row is asking quite a bit for a team that lost Glenn Dorsey, Early Doucet and Jacob Hester, Ali Highsmith, Craig Steltz, Matt Flynn and Chevis Jackson to the NFL. Not to mention Ryan Perrilloux. OK, I had to mention him.
Last year I picked LSU to win the national championship - all right, all right, I also picked them not to lose a game.
Certainly an undefeated season is asking way too much this year. Not with no experience at quarterback and the loss of some not only quality athletes, but real team leaders.
Even worse, I'm predicting that LSU fans will have to pull for Alabama to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl for the Tigers to have a chance to get into the SEC Champ-ionship Game.
And then you have the tough task of beating Georgia or Florida - and that may mean for the second time in one season.
Auburn's schedule is certainly the most favorable for an SEC West title, but don't count on them being SEC champions.
The War Eagles host LSU, Tennessee, Arkan-sas and Georgia, while playing at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Alabama.
LSU plays at Auburn, at Florida, at South Carolina and at Arkansas, while hosting Mississippi State, Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss.
And then you have the much-publicized quarterback situation.
An inexperienced signal-caller will cost the Tigers a couple of games. But the new guys learn under fire and do a commendable job through most of the season.
LSU opens the year against Appalachian State, and you can thank Michigan for this game not being the shocker of the season.
Don't worry, you won't see videos of Mountaineer players running all over Tiger Stadium field all season after a monumental upset.
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards is a good one and he will certainly keep Tiger defenders scurrying on opening night in late August.
But Mr. Edwards will be doing quite a bit of scurrying himself and will be glad to get out of Tiger Stadium alive when the scoreboard hits 0:00 when most of the fans have long headed for their air-conditioned vehicles with LSU easily cruising to a 30-point win.
Jarrett Lee has a couple of more games to adapt to the quarterback position as LSU's defense again dominates in wins over Troy and North Texas.
Next comes the biggest game in the SEC West of the year as the Tigers travel to Tuberville to take on Auburn.
LSU has had strange things happen on the Plains, and 2008 will be another one of those crazy LSU-Auburn contests for the books, with the Alabama Tigers coming out on top in the final minute.
LSU rebounds with an ugly win over Mississippi State before a much-needed break prior to road trips to Florida and South Carolina.
Tim Tebow won't be shedding any tears at the end of this one as LSU falls short in the Swamp.
A win at South Carolina gives the Tigers needed momentum as Georgia comes to town.
Jarrett Lee has his best game of the season as the Tigers stay in the hunt for the SEC title with an upset win over the Dogs.
Following a win over Tulane, the much anticipated battle with Nick Saban soothes Tiger fans' concerns about the direction of the program as LSU does just enough to send Nick back to Tuscaloosa with a loss.
The Tigers close out the season with wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Auburn defeats Alaba-ma again to represent the West, but LSU still gets a BCS bid and faces Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
I know, I had LSU playing Michigan last year for the national title, but I was a year off on the opponent.
As if Les Miles hasn't had enough drama all year, he has to put up with the Michigan angle once again, but handles that well as his Tigers handle the Wolverines to finish 11-2 and No. 5 in the country.
With Russell Sheppard waiting in the wings at quarterback and the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, Tiger fans put 2008 behind them rather quickly and look forward to another long offseason. |
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