LSU Football: Bold Predictions for the 2011 Season
It’s that time of year.
Spring practices are coming to an end, and fans are excited about the prospects of the upcoming season.
Every fan goes into the season hoping this is the year their team will get to hoist the BCS Championship trophy and give them bragging rights over all of their conference foes for the entire year.
Well Tiger fans, this is our year.
That’s a bold prediction considering the competition in our conference and division, but it’s just one of many bold predictions I have for the Tigers in 2011.
The following are the others.
Down the Ducks
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In one of the best Week 1 games ever, LSU will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on the defending BCS runner-up Oregon Ducks.
Oregon will come into the game with a chip on its shoulder, looking to prove that it is not an inferior team that cannot compete against SEC caliber teams.
LSU will go back to the site of its final 2010 game in which it dominated Texas A&M, looking to maintain that SEC superiority and show the national audience that it's ready to dominate in 2011.
The winner of this game will get a huge jump start for its BCS run, and the loser will have an up-hill battle to fight for the rest of the season.
Bold Prediction: Tiger victory 31-17
Running Wild
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With very few exceptions, the Tigers have had a strong running game year after year as far back as I can remember.
LSU has always stockpiled running backs, and despite the inevitable injuries each season, always seems to pull a stud off the bench.
This season will be no different.
The Tigers have a deep bench of running backs including Alfred Blue, Michael Ford, Jakhari Gore and incoming freshman Kenny Hilliard.
Spencer Ware will go into the season as the favorite to start and should have a phenomenal season.
Bold Prediction: Spencer Ware rushes for 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Almost Heaven West Virginia
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After big games against Oregon and Mississippi State, the Tigers will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.
In 2010, the Tigers defeated WVU 20-14, despite a complete lack of offense.
In fact, if it had not been for a 60-yard punt return for a Patrick Peterson touchdown, the Tigers would have likely lost the game.
The Tigers' offense must improve in 2011 if they want any chance of BCS glory.
Whether it is an improved Jordan Jefferson or junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger, the Tigers should have their quarterback position settled and the offense rolling by the Week 4 matchup against WVU.
Bold Prediction: LSU routs WVU by 20+ behind improved offense.
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Sweet Home Alabama
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The Tigers have the daunting task of going into Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in 2011.
Bama is a tough enough game on your own turf, but when you have to go to their home field, it’s one of the toughest challenges in college football.
Bama loses quite a bit from 2010—including their QB, top WR and top RB—but this is a Nick Saban team, so they are sure to reload and be as good as ever.
The Tigers have the luxury of a bye week prior to the matchup with the Crimson Tide, but that’s just a small advantage against a team that will be ready to get payback for a heartbreaking defeat in 2010.
This is becoming one of the best rivalries in the SEC, and 2011 should live up to all of the hype.
Bold Prediction: LSU wins a close game thanks to help from their defense.
Defense Better?
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LSU had a phenomenal defense in 2010, led by All-American Patrick Peterson.
That defense had 19 interceptions, two safeties and 20 forced fumbles with 13 recoveries.
Peterson accounted for four of the 2010 Tiger interceptions, but Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Reid, Ron Brooks, Craig Loston and Tharold Simon (all returning) accounted for 12.
Mathieu, Reid and Loston are all young and developing players that are going to get better with more playing time; 2011 will give them just that.
Bold Prediction: The LSU defense will have more turnovers and give up fewer points in 2011.
SEC West Champions
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The SEC is the strongest conference in the country, and the SEC West is by far the toughest division as it is home to three of the past four BCS National Champions.
Getting through the SEC is a rough ride, and this season will be one of the toughest.
In order to win the SEC West, LSU will have to beat Mississippi State, Alabama and Ole Miss on the road and Auburn and Arkansas at home.
The task is daunting and the schedule is grueling.
Staying healthy and playing smart will be keys for the Tigers as they go on this SEC West journey.
Bold Prediction: LSU goes undefeated in the SEC West
SEC Champions
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Although the SEC East will be much improved from last season, there is little doubt that the winner of the SEC West will win the SEC Championship game.
South Carolina and Florida will likely compete for the spot out of the East, with the winner taking the trip to the Georgia Dome to face your LSU Fighting Tigers.
The Tigers are notoriously strong in domes, and the Georgia Dome has become like a second home for LSU.
Bold Prediction: LSU wins a relatively close game over Florida to take the SEC Championship.
BCS National Champions
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While is it unlikely that LSU will go undefeated with the brutal schedule ahead of them, even a one-loss season should land them in the SEC Championship game.
A win in the SEC Championship game will put the Tigers in the BCS National Championship game, probably against the Big 12’s Oklahoma.
A rematch of the 2003 National Championship—and coincidentally in the same location—the two teams will meet in the Louisiana Superdome, the site of LSU’s last two national championships.
Bold Prediction: LSU dominates Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship game to bring a sixth straight title to the SEC.
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