LSU Tigers 2016 College Football Betting Preview, Championship Odds

LSU disappointed last season, and by the end, it nearly canned head coach Les Miles. However, heading into this season, oddsmakers at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark expect a rebound, listing the Tigers among the favorites to win not just the SEC, but also the national championship.

2015 LSU Record: 9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS

2016 regular-season wins over/under: 9.5

2016 odds to win SEC: +350

Odds to win national championship: +1400

Last Year in Review

LSU started 7-0 last season, but that was expected. Everybody down by the bayou knew the Tigers' season depended upon the outcome of their trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and maybe the trip to Oxford, Mississippi, as well. LSU lost to Alabama for the fifth time in a row, then, deflated, fell at home to Arkansas and lost to Ole Miss. Suddenly, Miles was in danger of losing his job.

However, they kept the coach around. The team responded by beating Texas A&M in the season finale before crushing Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl 56-27 and easily covering as seven-point favorites. But that's now four seasons in a row the Tigers have lost at least three games, and it's hard to contend for the national title losing that many.

This Year in Preview

There is hope, though. LSU returns 17 starters for this season, tied for the most in the SEC and tied for third-most in all of FBS. Eight starters return on offense, including running back Leonard Fournette (1,953 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns last year), quarterback Brandon Harris (9-4 in 13 career starts) and three along the offensive line. Meanwhile, nine starters are back on defense, so that unit expects to improve upon the 24 points per game it allowed last season.

LSU 2016 Schedule

The Tigers will play one of the top 10 schedules in the country this season. They open with a trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to play the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. From there, they get four winnable SEC road games, the toughest coming against Auburn and Florida, host Ole Miss and Alabama at Death Valley and miss two of the top teams in the East in Tennessee and Georgia. LSU has a chance, once again, to be unbeaten heading into its late-season showdown with the Crimson Tide.

Betting on the Tigers

LSU should be in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff this season. But everybody knows it, so the Tigers won't be sneaking up on anyone; they're already favored by 10 points on the college football betting lines for their opener in Wisconsin. As with all good teams, LSU will be favored by a bunch when playing at home, except for the Alabama game, while friendlier spreads will be found on the road.