LSU Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2022

The winds of change blew into Baton Rouge in a big way last November, as Brian Kelly comes into Baton Rouge. With a new quarterback, a filled roster, and two top-end NFL prospects, this LSU football team could shine in the Tigers’ first year under Kelly.

It blew up so quickly for LSU football last year. Ed Orgeron had been the perfect fit in Baton Rouge, but two down seasons in 2020 and ’21, and he was gone. In comes Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly to fill the void.

This shouldn’t be a fit. But, they’ve gone from 39 scholarship players in the Texas Bowl last year, to 73 as the season starts. That means there won’t be a ton of depth. However, this year’s LSU team does possess talent that will see them highly competitive in the SEC West from game number one.

Florida State gets LSU in New Orleans in a “neutral site” game to start the year.

This will be a tough win for the Seminoles to grab. They return 78 percent of their production from last season and get big-time edge rusher Jared Verse from UAlbany, but there’s still a question about whether Jordan Travis can be a needle-mover at quarterback.

It should be a hard-fought contest, but the game is in New Orleans makes a lot of the difference. Bayou Bengals win.

Projection: LSU 27, Florida State 24 (1-0)

Fellow Baton Rouge university Southern takes a bus a few blocks away to play LSU in Tiger Stadium.

The Jaguars were 4-7 last year, though they were also 1-4 in one-score games. Against FBS opponent Troy last year, they were downed 55-3. Southern should face a similar fate against LSU, if not worse.

Projection: LSU 52, Southern 6 (2-0)