LSU Football 2012: Is It Championship or Bust for the Tigers?

The hype generated for the LSU Tigers is unlike any other season in school history.

Thought to be the greatest LSU team of all time, the 2011 team came one win away from having the greatest college football season in history. This 2012 team is supposed to be better.

The defense returns Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Reid, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery and Tharold Simon, while the offense returns most of the offensive line, a stable of running backs and most of the wide receivers.

Such names have made LSU the team to beat in the SEC and in the nation, but is the praise justified?

You'd have to be a fool to question the caliber of talent on this team, but the fact that their new quarterback has yet to play a full game in the SEC is something to worry about.

Though extremely talented and shockingly accurate with the deep ball, Zach Mettenberger lacks experience, and playing in the SEC is a huge step up from playing junior college ball.

And though the receivers for the Tigers are stacked with talent, they lack a big, physical receiver who can jump up and get the ball near the goal line. In other words, they're missing a receiver that can provide what Rueben Randle did a year ago.

Once you look past the talent aspect, take a look at the schedule LSU has. Even without Bobby Petrino, Arkansas will be tough to beat in Fayetteville, and you already know Alabama will bring it to Tiger Stadium.

When it comes to college football, a championship is never a given because any team can lose their shot at the title by one slip-up. Add the fact that the Tigers play in the toughest conference in college football, and maybe just maybe the hype train will start to slow down.

But even with all of that said, it is championship or bust for LSU. The year's schedule is far easier than last season's, and even with that schedule last year, the Tigers beat every team by double digits except for Alabama.

With a talent-rich and veteran roster that has been through the gauntlet, this team is poised to bring Louisiana another national championship. Anything less would be a disappointment.