LSU Football: Can Tigers bounce back and contend in SEC?

Always tough SEC schedule awaits LSU football in 2021

LSU plays in perhaps the toughest division in the country in the SEC West and that means guaranteed games against Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Auburn.

LSU also makes their first trip to UCLA in the season opener against what should be a much improved Bruins squad this season.

• Game 1: At UCLA (W)- I think this is an upset potentially, but the Tigers just have too much talent for UCLA.
• Game 2: McNeese State (W)- The most interesting thing about this game is that Ed Orgeron’s son is the QB at McNeese State.
• Game 3: Central Michigan (W)- I think the Chippewas are contenders in the MAC, but LSU wins big at home.
• Game 4: At Mississippi State (W)- I think the Tigers will have revenge on their mind after last season’s embarrassing loss to the Bulldogs.
• Game 5: Auburn (W)- It is hard to know what to expect from Auburn with new head coach Bryan Harsin, but I think LSU finds a way to win at home.
• Game 6: At Kentucky (W)- The Wildcats won’t have the offense to keep up with LSU in this game.
• Game 7: Florida (L)- Last season’s game with the Gators was as memorable as it gets and this too should be a good game. Florida is pretty underrated this season and they won’t fall completely off without Kyle Trask or Kyle Pitts.
• Game 8: At Ole Miss (W)- The Tigers beat the Rebels in a track meet last season and it will probably take a similar effort this season.
• Game 9: At Alabama (L)- LSU won a classic the last time these two teams met in Tuscaloosa, but that won’t be the case this season.
• Game 10: Arkansas (W)- The Razorbacks won’t catch anyone by surprise like they did last season and LSU gets another win in this rivalry.
• Game 11: Louisiana Monroe (W)- This has the potential to be the most lopsided game of the weekend.
• Game 12: Texas A&M (W)- LSU will get a big win at home to end the season and finish second in the SEC West.

Final Record: 10-2, 6-2 SEC

LSU is could be one of the more high variance teams in the country. They have the talent to beat anyone not named Alabama on their schedule and if their talent exceeds expectations, there is a chance they could compete with the Crimson Tide.

The Tigers could also bottom out and it could look like they caught magic in a bottle with Joe Brady and Joe Burrow in 2019 and go 6-6 or 7-5. They are a tough team to read, but talent usually wins out and that’s why I will give them a 10-2 record in 2021.