LSU Football: 5 Reasons Why the Tigers Make the BCS Championship Game

LSU goes into the 2011 season with expectations of a BCS championship, and anything less will be a disappointment. 

The stars seemed to be aligned for success as the Tigers have a great strength of schedule, upgrades at positions that were less than productive last season, and the BCS title game in their back yard.

It should be exciting from day one as the Tigers take on powerhouse teams early in their schedule.

1. Strength of Schedule

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Drake Nevis #92 of the Louisiana State University Tigers in action during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

With out-of-conference games against Oregon and West Virginia and the usually brutal SEC West schedule, should the Tigers get through the season undefeated, or even with one loss, there would be no question that they would belong in the BCS title game.

The Tigers’ biggest game will come in November when they face Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Both teams should be ranked pretty high going into the game, and the winner should travel to Atlanta for the SEC championship game and then represent the SEC in the BCS National Championship.

2. Russell Shepard

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 4: Russell Shepard #10 of the LSU Tigers runs down the field for a touchdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Georgia Dome September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The addition of new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe should help the Tigers to move the chains through the air and hopefully get more out of Russell Shepard, who has been underutilized thus far in his career.

Shepard has the ability to go the distance each and every time he touches the ball, but in 2010 he only had 64 touches. 

Improved quarterback play should allow Shepard to get more touches and more production in 2011.  

3. Defense

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: The LSU Tigers cheerleaders cheer for their defense in the final minutes of their 30-24 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by

Even with the loss of Patrick Peterson, Drake Nevis and Kelvin Sheppard to the NFL, the Tigers are loaded with young talent that can keep the defense ranked among the best in the SEC.

Tyrann Matthieu will do his best to be as productive as Peterson and incoming freshman Anthony Johnson could step in and make a huge impact on the defensive line, making the jobs of Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francios a little easier as they try to make up for defensive production lost with the departure of Sheppard.

LSU is reloading on the defensive side of the ball, and with an offense that can keep them off of the field a little longer than last season, the Tigers should dominate opposing offenses with speed and athleticism.

4. Offense

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Quarterback Jordan Jefferson #9 of the Louisiana State University Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defea

The improvement of LSU’s quarterbacks will have a tremendous impact on the team.

Not only will it lead to more scoring and more production on the offensive side of the ball, but moving the chains and sustaining drives will give the defense time to rest between possessions which should allow them to use their speed and athleticism to dominate opponents.

Jordan Jefferson seems to be improving and could very well maintain his starting role, but if he slips up the Tigers will have the luxury of having Zach Mettenberger, a capable starter, ready to step in to replace him.

Either way the Tigers will be more productive on offense this season.

5. Tiger Fans Rule!

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 07: Fans of the Louisiana State University Tigers hold up a sign against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tiger Stadium is well known for being one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play in college football.

Tiger fans are crazy and loud, especially on Saturday nights.

Tiger fans also travel well and with a big game against Oregon on a neutral field in Fort Worth, Texas, the fans could make the game feel like a home game for the Tigers.

If, or maybe I should say when, the Tigers reach the BCS title game, they will have the luxury of playing for the title an hour away from home in the Louisiana Superdome.

LSU is traditionally a great team in domes and with a rowdy home fan base behind them, they are unstoppable in the Superdome.