WATCH: LSU football QBs during their team’s first preseason practice
LSU quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier (13), Rickie Collins (10), AJ Swann (15) and Colin Hurley (16) work out during the first fall practice.
BATON ROUGE – Brian Kelly begins his third year as head coach of the LSU football team.
In his three previous coaching stints, his programs took a big step forward in their third year, winning a conference championship at Central Michigan, participating in the New Year’s Six Bowls in Cincinnati and playing in a national title game with Notre Dame in 2012.
LSU, ranked 12th in the LMB coaches’ preseason poll, has won 10 games in each of Kelly’s first two seasons. Could the Tigers, now led by Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback, break through in the highly-seeded Southeastern Conference and advance to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff bracket?
Here are our predictions for each game:
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September 1: LSU football vs. USC (Las Vegas)
LSU’s opening game will be ugly. Both teams are breaking in new quarterbacks who will throw interceptions, but it will be Nussmeier who leads the Tigers to a late, decisive point.
Forecast: LSU 28, UCLA 24
September 7: Nicholls State
The Tigers are bigger, faster and stronger than Nicholls and that’s all you need to know.
Forecast: LSU 54, Nicholls 6
September 14: in South Carolina
This game is all about special teams. Shane Beamer, like his father Frank, specializes in creating positive plays for special teams, and South Carolina beats LSU at home.
Forecast: South Carolina 23, LSU 17
September 21: UCLA
UCLA has a new head coach this season in DeShaun Foster, and the nearly cross-country trip to Baton Rouge will be just the Bruins’ third game. LSU is recovering from the loss at South Carolina, as it rarely loses non-conference home games.
forecast: LSU 31, UCLA 20
September 28: South Alabama
South Alabama also has a new head coach in Major Applewhite, as Kane Wommack is now the defensive coordinator at Alabama under Kalen DeBoer. Nussmeier and the offense have another big day.
Forecast: LSU 42, South Alabama 13
October 12: Ole Miss
Five games won’t be enough for LSU DC Blake Baker to prepare his defense for the duel against arguably the SEC’s best offense, Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin and Jaxson Dart come to Baton Rouge and put up a salvo of points.
Forecast: Ole Miss 45, LSU 27
October 19: in Arkansas
Bobby Petrino’s return to Arkansas as an offensive playmaker makes the Hogs interesting, but Sam Pittman can’t reverse all of his team’s losing streaks from last season. LSU dominates the Razorbacks on the road thanks to a strong running game from Kaleb Jackson and Co.
Forecast: LSU 28, Arkansas 13
October 26: at Texas A&M
LSU hasn’t won at Texas A&M since 2017. Regardless of records, this game between the two teams was interesting and hard-fought, with A&M making a late move and extending its home winning streak against the Tigers to four.
Forecast: Texas A&M 16, LSU 14
November 9: Alabama
Alabama will be better than most give them credit for since Nick Saban resigned and DeBoer was hired. LSU’s weak defense will not be able to slow down Jalen Milroe often enough.
Forecast: Alabama 34, LSU 24
16 November: in Florida
The Swamp is a tough place to play, but at this point in the season, Billy Napier might be out of a job. LSU plays call control and gets a hard-fought road win.
forecast: LSU 21, Florida 13
November 23: Vanderbilt
A home game against Vanderbilt comes at just the right time for LSU. Jackson’s physical running style and senior Josh Williams overwhelm the Commodores.
Forecast: LSU 30, Vanderbilt 14
November 30 Oklahoma
LSU welcomes SEC newcomer Oklahoma to Death Valley for the season finale. Both teams are fighting for a spot in the SEC Championship, but bowl game seeding will play a big role.
forecast: LSU 33, Oklahoma 28
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Have questions about LSU athletics? Send them to Cory at [email protected].
