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CFB Prediction 2024: Replacing Heisman Winner Key for No. 7 LSU

· Aug 23 - 6 minutes read

Garrett Nussmeier takes over for Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as LSU’s starting quarterback.
LSU needs to show improvement on defense to make a run at the SEC title.
LSU could be favored in its first seven games this season.
Check out the reasons why LSU is at No. 7 in the BetUS list of the Top 25 college football teams in 2024.

Things are going to look much different at LSU without Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels throwing the ball deep to receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Even with key playmakers gone from the top-scoring team in the national, the NCAA football picks are pretty promising as Brian Kelly attempts to join Les Miles as the only LSU head coaches to win at least 10 games in his first three seasons at the helm of the Tigers.

CFB Prediction 2024: Replacing Heisman Winner Key for No. 7 LSU — Garrett Nussmeier #13 of the LSU Tigers | Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Garrett Nussmeier has 11 touchdowns in limited action over the last three seasons and is tied for eighth at +2000 in the Heisman Trophy odds.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is No. 48 on my Big Board. He was really good in the bowl game v. Wisconsin. But he also came in for an injured Jayden Daniels v. Alabama and this throw feels like a preview of things to come. We’ll be talking about him on the @NFLDraftCBS pod next week. pic.twitter.com/cP5QFvnOL9

— ryan wilson (@ryanwilsonCBS) August 21, 2024

LSU was fifth in the preseason SEC poll. Offensive linemen Will Campbell and Emery Jones, receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor joins linebacker Harold Perkins and defensive back Major Burns as LSU players to make either the first or the second team in the preseason All-SEC team. The SEC championship odds have LSU fifth at +950 to win the SEC title.

LSU is priced at +125 in the college football odds to make the College Football Playoffs. The Tigers are seventh at +1800 in the odds of winning the national championship.

LSU has -125 odds to go over nine wins during the regular season. With five matchups against ranked teams, the Tigers will need to win at least three of those games to go over nine wins.

LSU is 13th in the Associated Press preseason poll and 12th in the American Football Coaches Association preseason rankings. The BetUS Top 25 countdown has LSU at No. 7.

LSU Tigers at a Glance

2023 record: 10-3
2023 SEC Record: 6-2
Head coach: Brian Kelly
Odds To Win SEC: +950

Star Power Returns on Offense

Replacing a Heisman Trophy winner is no easy task but Nussmeier is well thought of in SEC circles. The BetUS sportsbook odds have Nussmeier with the fourth-shortest odds to lead the SEC in passing yards.

Daniels was the leading rusher for LSU in 2023. Josh Williams is the top returning runner for the Tigers. He is in his fifth season at LSU. He ran for 51 yards and had three catches for 22 yards in a bowl win against Wisconsin. Kaleb Jackson is another running back to keep an eye on.

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Lacy averaged 18.6 yards per reception in 2023 with seven of his 30 catches resulting in touchdowns. With the loss of a pair of 1,000-yard receivers, more targets should be coming for Lacy, tight end Mason Taylor and transfer CJ Daniels.

The Tigers have experience at multiple spots on the offensive line.

NFL scouts are viewing linebacker Harold Perkins as one of the most intriguing 2025 NFL Draft prospects. Don’t be surprised to see him top his 2023 numbers of 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He has +3000 odds to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Brian Kelly on #LSU LB Harold Perkins moving back inside:

“We’re having a hard time blocking him, and we have a pretty good offensive line.”

“He has elevated the players around him. That’s a pretty good thing for Tiger fans.” pic.twitter.com/IqXuwrj2k0

— TigerDroppings (@TigerDroppings) August 21, 2024

Safety Andre’ Sam and linebacker Omar Speights are off to the NFL. Safety Major Burns and linebacker Greg Penn were the top two tacklers for LSU in 2023.

LSU finished ahead of only Vanderbilt in yards allowed and points allowed in the SEC last season so perhaps a change in defensive coordinators will make a difference.

Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert, Liberty receiver CJ Daniels, Mississippi State receiver Zavion Thomas and Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann are among the key incoming transfers.

Offensive lineman Lance Heard, defensive lineman Quency Higgins, receiver Jalen Brown, edge rusher Jaxon Howard, cornerback Denver Harris and running back Logan Diggs are among the players who transferred elsewhere.

LSU had a top-10 class of incoming freshmen. Defensive linemen Dominick McKinley, tight end Trey’Dez Green, safety Dashawn Spears and receiver Kylan Billiot are all top-100 recruits and the top four signees from the state of Louisiana.

LSU 2024 Betting Outlook

With back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes coming to Baton Rouge, there is some pressure on Brian Kelly heading into his third season, even if he has a chance to join Les Miles as the only LSU coaches to win at least 10 games in each of his first three seasons.

LSU is 3-6 against ranked teams in Kelly’s first two seasons. This is not a new trend as Notre Dame was 5-6 against ranked teams in Kelly’s final three years as the Fighting Irish’s head coach.

LSU covered in six of the seven home games compared to a 2-2 mark on the road.

The Tigers open the season against No. 23 USC in Las Vegas with LSU favored by 4½ points according to the college football odds. The first time LSU could be the underdog is on Oct. 26 on the road against Texas A&M.

Even though LSU is 2-11 in its last 13 games against Alabama, the Tigers are currently the slight favorite against Alabama. The regular-season finale against SEC newcomer Oklahoma could be crucial in LSU’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff field.

Bet on LSU to win the Heisman Trophy Here