LSU football finds themselves in a state of flux. What are the best and worst case scenarios for the Tigers in 2018?
Gone is Les Miles. His removal in Baton Rouge was supposed to free the Tigers up to take the next step. It hasn’t happened under Coach Ed Orgeron yet. Will it ever?
The Tigers have major questions marks at quarterback entering the season. If they can get a strong performance by Joe Burrow in practice it should be enough to earn him the nod, but he hasn’t done anything yet of substance to make fans feel comfortable however the battle plays out.
What’ are the best and worst case scenario for LSU football in 2018?
Best case scenario
- Sep 2 – vs (N) Miami (FL) – W
- Sep 8 – vs Southeastern Louisiana – W
- Sep 15 – @ Auburn – L
- Sep 22 – vs Louisiana Tech – W
- Sep 29 – vs Ole Miss – W
- Oct 6 – @ Florida – W
- Oct 13 – vs Georgia – L
- Oct 20 – vs Mississippi State – L
- Nov 3 – vs Alabama – L
- Nov 10 – @ Arkansas – W
- Nov 17 – vs Rice – W
- Nov 24 – @ Texas A&M – W
Result: 8-4
Scoring an upset against Alabama, Auburn and Georgia don’t seem remotely within the realm of possibility for this iteration of the Bayou Bengals in 2018. LSU won’t be able to “out-talent” those squads, but they will have that advantage over most everyone else they face.
A strong start with a win over Miami on a neutral field will help the Tigers build some momentum and keep their head coach off the hot seat.
Worst case scenario
- Sep 2 – vs (N) Miami (FL) – L
- Sep 8 – vs Southeastern Louisiana – W
- Sep 15 – @ Auburn – L
- Sep 22 – vs Louisiana Tech – W
- Sep 29 – vs Ole Miss – L
- Oct 6 – @ Florida – W
- Oct 13 – vs Georgia – L
- Oct 20 – vs Mississippi State – L
- Nov 3 – vs Alabama – L
- Nov 10 – @ Arkansas – W
- Nov 17 – vs Rice – W
- Nov 24 – @ Texas A&M – L
Result: 5-7
Not only would a 5-7 finish likely be enough to get Ed Orgeron ran out of Baton Rouge, their potential season-ending defeat at the hands of Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies could be too much to bear. LSU almost had Fisher, but now he’s coaching at Texas A&M, a school that has yet to beat LSU since joining the SEC in 2012.
A loss to the Aggies combined with an upset sprinkled in by Matt Luke and Ole Miss are real possibilities. That’s especially true if a rough start and a shellacking early in the season (say against Auburn) starts the rumor wheel back up in full force. A 5-7 finish with no bowl would be a damning second season for Ed Orgeron and company.