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Tigers Head Coach Brian Kelly. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

NCAAF Top 25 futures: LSU Looks to build on Year 1 success with Brian Kelly

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 8/13/23

When head coach Brian Kelly took over in Baton Rouge, it had all the makings of a bad fit. Not because he couldn't coach, but because the program needed some new energy, and that is not really his thing. Nevertheless, a year in, it is hard to argue with the hire. The proof of concept came much faster than expected.

Now the Tigers enter Year 2 as a talented team coming off an SEC West title. The Tigers are ranked behind Alabama to start the season but to me, they have fewer question marks than the team they beat to take the division last season. The opener against Florida State is going to tell us a lot, and quickly.

No. 5 LSU Tigers 2023 Win Total

Over 9.5 -125 / Under 9.5 +105

The markets definitely seem to think that the Tigers are going to be in the mix in the SEC and for the college football playoffs this season. A 10-win season (as predicted) is definitely going to have them as part of the conversation all season long. Especially if they win that opener against Florida State. Right now the markets and prices on LSU seem pretty fair. There does not appear to be a ton of value on either side.

Playing in the SEC West, the Tigers have one of the more difficult schedules in the country. This year, especially so because the Tigers have to go to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. That and their trip to Orlando to play the Seminoles are the toughest games on the schedule, but they also have to travel to both Mississippi State and Ole Miss in the first month of the season. If are not focused for either of those games, the season could get disappointing in a hurry in Baton Rouge. There are enough potential pitfalls to see this team falling back to dreaded eight-win status.

Quarterback Jaydon Daniels transferred into the program last season and had some immediate success. It is amazing how the pieces of a talented team can fall into place when the quarterback play is competent and he has some nice weapons to work with. I see no reason for this offense not to be even more efficient this season. On defense, they are led by linebacker Harold Perkins, who for some is the best defensive player in the country. I am not saying he isn't. He is awesome and when you have some elite individual talent like that it tends to raise what is otherwise a talented group. LSU should have one of the best defenses in the country this season. Shocker.

I know most of us did not see the juggernaut LSU team led by Joe Burrow coming a few years back, but this does not feel like that team. They are going to be very good but I am not sure they are going to really challenge the top teams in the nation and the schedule is very difficult. Look for the under. There are just too many tough games they would need to win away from home. The under pays off better too.

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