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LSU Avoids Elite SEC Teams but 4 Stiff Tests Await in 2024
If LSU played just a little bit of defense, the Tigers could very well be heading into the 2024 season as the defending national champions. LSU allowed 45 points in a season-opening loss to Florida State, gave up 55 points against Ole Miss and 42 more against Alabama.
It was fun watching Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels torch opposing defenses with passes to Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. All three of them were first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft so things will look much different heading into his third season at the helm of the LSU program. The college football odds have LSU fifth at +950 in the odds of winning the SEC championship.
LSU was pretty quiet when it came to working the transfer portal. Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert, Liberty receiver CJ Daniels, Mississippi State receiver Zavion Thomas and Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann are the top incoming transfers. Eight of the 13 outgoing transfers who landed at other power conference programs were defensive players and that is not a promising trend for one of the two SEC teams to allow more than 400 yards per game a season ago.
LSU avoids Georgia and Texas in the regular season but there are still plenty of challenging games for the Tigers.
When looking at the college football futures odds, it is a little unusual to see as many teams with shorter odds than LSU to win the SEC title as there are to win the national title. The Tigers are tied for fifth at +1400 in the odds of winning the NCAAF championship.
Here’s a look at some of the more challenging matchups for LSU heading into the 2024 season.
Top 4 Games for LSU in 2024
1. Is LSU Ready to Roll Against Crimson Tide?
Nick Saban retired and plenty of Alabama players hit the transfer portal but, until proven otherwise, any game against the Crimson Tide is one with plenty of challenges attached to it.
The most memorable victory in Brian Kelly’s brief run at the helm of the LSU program was a 32-31 win over Alabama as a 13½-point home underdog in 2022. That was just the second win in the last 13 meetings with the Crimson Tide.
Four of the last five games between Alabama and LSU went over the total.
The Nov. 9 matchup comes after a bye week for LSU. The Tigers are currently listed by the college football spread as a 2½-point favorite. If that holds up, it would be the first time since 2006 that LSU is favored against Alabama.
2. New QBs to Headline Season Opener vs USC in Vegas
What a game this could have been a season ago as USC quarterback Caleb Williams and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels went first and second in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Both teams are looking to move forward with a new quarterback and this season-opening matchup at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, will be an early indication of how things could play out.
Garrett Nussmeier threw touchdown passes against nationally ranked Ole Miss and Arkansas teams as a freshman and backed up Daniels in the last two seasons. He is showing up in the top 10 in the Heisman Trophy odds.
Super cool to get a glimpse of LSU’s new run scheme.
Garrett Nussmeier and the rest of the QB’s building the chemistry with the running backs on pitches and handoffs.
With Josh Williams, Kaleb Jackson, & an experienced offensive line the run game should be elite. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/Nab8IFLDjE
— John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) March 26, 2024
It will be a homecoming for former UNLV quarterback and Las Vegas native Jayden Maiava in his USC debut.
There were three teams from the Power-5 conferences that had at least 10 games land over the total and two of them will be meeting in this game.
3. Another Classic Between LSU and Ole Miss?
Ole Miss and LSU have a tough act to follow after the teams combined for 104 points and 1,343 yards the last time they squared off.
LSU had won nine of 11 games against the Rebels but Ole Miss came away with wins in the two of the last three years.
The good news for LSU is that the game is in Baton Rouge this year and the Tigers haven’t lost at home to Ole Miss since 2008.
No team was happier to see running back Quinshon Judkins transfer from Ole Miss to Ohio State than LSU after Judkins rushed for 111 and 177 yards in his two matchups with the Tigers.
Jaxson Dart is back for the Rebels and he threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s matchup with LSU. He ran for a touchdown with 5:06 left to play and threw the game-winning TD pass with 38 seconds remaining.
4. LSU Looks to Take Care of Business vs A&M in College Station
Before the huge showdown with Alabama, the Tigers need to head to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies in what could be the most challenging road game of the season.
Texas A&M brought in 28 transfers – four coming from other SEC schools – and had even more transfers heading elsewhere. One of them is safety Jardin Gilbert, who is now at LSU.
Six of the last eight games between the teams went over the total. LSU has won 10 of the last 13 meetings with A&M and this is the type of game that the Tigers need to win to be a factor in the SEC championship race.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
Questions Of The Day
What are the odds for the LSU Tigers to win college football’s national championship?
LSU is priced at +1400 to win the national title. Only Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, and Oregon have shorter championship odds.
Which LSU players have the best odds of winning the Heisman Trophy?
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has +1800 odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. That is tied for eighth but five of the players with shorter odds happen to be SEC quarterbacks.
