LSU Tigers 2009 SEC Football Future Lines

LSU Tigers Betting Odds – CFB Football Future Lines

NCAA Football Futures Betting – LSU TIGERS: CAN THEY BE ROAD WARRIORS?

Today we take a look at the LSU Tigers, who won the national title two seasons ago but didn’t do much in terms of the follow-up last season:

2008 Record: 8-5 SU, 3-9 ATS
Three-Year record (’06-’08): 31-9 SU, 14-23-2 ATS

NCAA Football Odds

LSU Odds To Win SEC West Division

Alabama +200
Arkansas +650
Auburn +1200
LOUISIANA STATE +220
Mississippi +200
Mississippi State +2000

To Win SEC title +325
To Win National title +1900
Under 8.5 wins -135
Over 8.5 wins -105

There’s no two ways about it – LSU was a disappointment last season, and they know it. The Tigers lost home games to Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss, were also routed by Florida, and had life-and-death with Sun Belt entry Troy before emerging victorious. They achieved a vindication of sorts in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl when they destroyed Georgia Tech 38-3.

One of the stars in that game for LSU was quarterback Jordan Jefferson, but he is nonetheless a potentially shaky part of this offense. Jefferson completed less than 50% of his passes, and it was this inconsistency in the passing game that led to LSU’s mediocre season. The thing is, Jefferson is probably a better alternative at this time than either Jarrett Lee (14 TD’s, 16 INT’s last year) or freshman Russell Shepard, who is the guy Les Miles will go with if he is looking for someone who can really run.

There isn’t a bad cast of receivers. The best returnee is Brandon LaFell, who had 63 receptions to lead the SEC and was second in yardage gained. One of the other pass catchers who could emerge is Terrance Toliver, who caught only 22 balls last year but came to Baton Rouge with a huge reputation.

In the end, though, if the Tigers can’t run their offense is not going to work. That means handing the ball to Charles Scott, who stood out with 5.4 yards a carry and 18 rushing touchdowns, which was tops in the conference. Scott, who is a legitimate All-America candidate, may be relied upon even more this season, which will pad his yardage total (1174 in ’08), but there is also a capable relief man in Keiland Williams (417 yards last year).

It was a tough break for LSU that they lost All-America guard Herman Johnson to the NFL Draft, but this team does manage to return three starters to its offensive line.

The defense allowed 30 points or more five times, including 50+ points to Florida and Georgia. In consecutive years, this team has lost defensive linemen who have been drafted in the top five – Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. They still should be a good run-stopping unit against most teams (allowed 3.4 ypc last year). Indeed, the top four tacklers are back. Rahim Alem, a defensive end who didn’t even play all the time, should be able to improve upon his 8.5-sack total from ’08.

All three linebackers from last year’s starting crew return. One of them is Perry Riley, who was the defensive MVP of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. They also should have one of the best secondary’s in the SEC. Patrick Peterson, who snagged one of the starting cornerback jobs during the course of last season, is a future star and one of three returning starters.

LSU’s non-conference schedule is pretty mild. They visit Washington, and host Louisiana (formerly Louisiana-Lafayette), Louisiana Tech and Tulane. They do have some challenges during conference play as they have to play road contests against Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss – three teams who beat them at Tiger Stadium last year. Then, of course, there is a home game against the awesome Florida Gators.

LSU is in the top ten on a lot of pre-season lists. Maybe, but they’re a marginal top ten pick at best. I don’t think they’re getting by Ole Miss in the division, and they certainly won’t topple Florida in the SEC. They just won’t get enough of a payoff from the quarterback position. That having been said, they have talent, and I would be perfectly willing to go “over” the total of 8.5 wins (at -105 in the BetUS NCAA football futures betting odds) because of the light non-SEC slate.

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