SEC Football: Predicting Over/Under for Each SEC Team’s Win Total for 2015

Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is grabbed by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jarran Reed (90) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, the Tigers stumbled down the stretch and lost three of their final four games, and a lackluster offense was largely to blame. Over the season’s final five games, LSU averaged just 14.2 points per contest. For LSU to contend in the SEC West and surpass Las Vegas’ projected 8.5 wins, the Tigers are going to need much more production offensively.

Related: LSU Season Preview and Prediction

Running back Leonard Fournette had a great freshman season with 1,034 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns, but the talented ball carrier can’t carry the entire load. LSU needs Brandon Harris or Anthony Jennings to take the reins of the offense to use playmaking wideouts Malachi Dupre, Travin Dural, John Diarse and Trey Quinn and take the pressure off of Fournette.

Six starters return from the SEC’s best defense (316.8 total yards per game last season), but the loss of defensive coordinator John Chavis to Texas A&M is cause for concern.

As usual, LSU should go 4-0 in non-conference contests. Tiger Stadium boasts one of the best home field advantages in college football, so wins over Florida and Texas A&M are also probable, and home dates with Auburn and Arkansas could go either way.

Things don’t look as good on the road, however. Mississippi State and South Carolina are coin flips, and Alabama and Ole Miss both look like future losses at this point in the pre-season. That means seven or eight wins is more likely than nine.

LSU Over/Under 8.5 Wins in 2015: Under

Next: Ole Miss