LSU to fight for SEC title

By Tom Dodge

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final in a series of previews of the 2016 SEC football teams:
LSU: The LSU Tigers had high hopes going into the 2015 season.
But a three-game losing streak derailed their season and almost cost head coach Les Miles his job.
A win in the the regular season finale against Texas A&M preserved Les’ spot on the sidelines.
Now, LSU is in position to win the SEC and claim a playoff spot – led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Leonard Fournette and sophomore Derrius Guice.
Fournette scored 22 touchdowns last season and set LSU’s single-season rushing record at 1,953 yards.
The passing game has to improve behind quarterback Brandon Harris but he has some of the best receivers in the SEC with Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural.
Ethan Pocic steadies the offensive line at center.
Dave Aranda takes over as the third defensive coordinator in three seasons.
Linebacker Kendell Beckwith and safety Jamal Adama leads the defense
Defensive back Tre’Davious White, defensive tackle Christian LaCouture and safety Rickey Jefferson will help make the Tigers one of the best defenses in the country this season.
With 18 returning starters, LSU should contend for the SEC West title and even battle for a playoff spot.
But for the trek to Tampa for the title game to be possible, LSU can’t stumble.
It begins at Green Bay’s Lambough Field against a good Wisconsin team, but the Tigers should escape with a win.
LSU will cruise past Jacksonville State and then open SEC play with a victory over Mississippi State.
The Tigers then travel to Auburn, which most years has been a battle.
While an Auburn upset is possible, Fournette and LSU will win.
Another fight with a Tiger happens the next week, but LSU should down Missouri to improve to 5-0.
An Oct. 8 road trip to Florida will be one of the biggest tests of the season for LSU and some experts are predicting a Tiger loss.
Even if LSU loses to the Gators, don’t expect a collapse like last season.
LSU will earn another win over Southern Mississippi before taking on Ole Miss and earning another hard-fought victory.
If the Tigers are 8-0 or 7-1, it will all come down to Nov. 5 when the Crimson Tide visits Death Valley.
For LSU to win the SEC West, the Tigers have to upset Alabama.
Alabama has beaten LSU five straight times, icluding a 21-0 win over the Tigers in the 2012 BCS title game.
No game is bigger than Alabama’s visit on Nov. 5, but LSU must have already beaten Florida and Ole Miss or it is just an upset chance to stop the Tide.
LSU then visits Arkansas and can’t afford to lose to the Hogs before returning home against South Alabama.
A trip to Texas A&M concludes the regular season.
LSU can’t afford to lose more than one SEC game to make it to Atlanta.
Which team will upset LSU – Auburn, Ole Miss, Alabama or maybe Arkansas.
A combination of any two losses and the dream season ends short for the Tigers.
But just maybe the Tigers will reign in 2016.

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