Van’s 2007 SEC Preview
Okay, I lied. Today: LSU
LSU wants to prove that Les is More this year, and get rid of all that annoying talk about how “he’s doing it with Saban’s players.” Admittedly, Miles isn’t what you’d call an “inspiring” coach, seeming somewhat befuddled on the sidelines at times. Indeed, LSU fans seem to be, at best, tolerating Miles as their coach, despite his great win total thus far. If anything, they appear to believe he’s underachieved—though how going 11-2 every year is underachieving is a bit beyond me, and especially given LSU’s dismal record during the 1990s.
In any case, let’s dig into the schedule and see what the crazy purple and gold Cajuns will be doing in 2007:
At Miss. State
I like Sly Croom. I hate that he’s running a program that appears utterly helpless in the conference. That win over Alabama last year bought him some time (and stole what was left of time from Shula) but asking his lil’ ol’ team to compete with LSU’s level of talent is ridiculous.
LSU 38 MSU 13
Virginia Tech
On paper, a good matchup of athletic teams that play extremely tough defense. But LSU will be playing slightly better, it’s early enough in the season that raw talent will matter more than skill and teamwork accumulated over the course of a season, and it’s in Deaf Valley. Should be fun to watch.
LSU 20 VT 16
MTSU
Oh, please.
LSU 56 MTSU 6
South Carolina
Wellllll now. This could have been interesting, if it were in Columbia. But down in the big drunk-tank by the Gulf, I can’t see even Spurrier pulling off a miracle.
LSU 23 SC 13
At Tulane
Oh, please.
LSU 49 Tulane 9
Florida
Here we go. The pick of many as “round one” of the SEC Championship Game. The Gators have to travel to LSU. Nine of their defensive starters are new. Tebow is the full-time QB now. Lots of variables here. And of course Florida took down the Tigers in their “MNC” year of 2003 here, so it’s doable. However. However. However.
LSU 13 UF 10
At Kentucky
Trap game!! Trap game!! Sound the alerts and hide the kids, it’s the trap game!! Except, not so much.
LSU 34 UK 23
Auburn
This has turned into a true “home team always wins” series. Some LSU supporters claim that LSU has singled Auburn out as their biggest rival (though that that could change now that Saban’s at Alabama) (and meanwhile, Auburn considers LSU probably their, what, fifth biggest rival?). It has been a defensive slugfest par excellence the last few years. Auburn pulled out a last-second miracle in 2004; LSU watched AU’s kicker miss five FGs, any one of which would have beaten them, in 2005; AU won a game of steel from LSU in ’06, holding LSU to single digits. But AU has not won in Baton Rouge since the shellacking Tuberville handed them in ’99. I don’t see things going well this time. AU will score 17, which is pretty good on LSU in their own house. But LSU will score more.
LSU 23 AU 17
At Alabama
A huge game, at least from the perspective of the fans and the media. On the field, I expect a rather odd game to play out. Alabama’s usually-stout defense will be down a bit, while their recently-mediocre offense should be much improved. They’ll score a few points on LSU. But LSU will score more. It should be quite a circus.
LSU 31 Alabama 20
La Tech
Oh, please.
LSU 49 La Tech 6
At Ole Miss
Mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble OH CRAP IT’S LSU!
LSU 34 Ole Miss 13
Arkansas
If the Hawgs couldn’t get it done last year, I don’t know how they will this year.
LSU 24 Arkansas 20
Final record: 12-0. Except, I don’t think so. Something will happen. They won’t go undefeated. One of those teams will surprise me and everyone else and knock them off. But, game by game, I can’t find one that seems poised to do it.
So I think the 2007 season in the SEC West will be a weekly session of watching to see if anyone can take down LSU. Someone will do it. But who??
I think Florida, Auburn, and Alabama all have decent shots, though I see each of them as an underdog in that game. South Carolina and Kentucky are both set up to pull the monumental upset. And there’s Va Tech.
So pack your bags for the SECCG and the MNC Game, LSU. You got an extremely favorable schedule and you almost ran it. That’ll be good enough.
Maybe Les really is More! (Until you run him off in a couple of years. --ed.)
Okay, I lied. Today: LSU
LSU wants to prove that Les is More this year, and get rid of all that annoying talk about how “he’s doing it with Saban’s players.” Admittedly, Miles isn’t what you’d call an “inspiring” coach, seeming somewhat befuddled on the sidelines at times. Indeed, LSU fans seem to be, at best, tolerating Miles as their coach, despite his great win total thus far. If anything, they appear to believe he’s underachieved—though how going 11-2 every year is underachieving is a bit beyond me, and especially given LSU’s dismal record during the 1990s.
In any case, let’s dig into the schedule and see what the crazy purple and gold Cajuns will be doing in 2007:
At Miss. State
I like Sly Croom. I hate that he’s running a program that appears utterly helpless in the conference. That win over Alabama last year bought him some time (and stole what was left of time from Shula) but asking his lil’ ol’ team to compete with LSU’s level of talent is ridiculous.
LSU 38 MSU 13
Virginia Tech
On paper, a good matchup of athletic teams that play extremely tough defense. But LSU will be playing slightly better, it’s early enough in the season that raw talent will matter more than skill and teamwork accumulated over the course of a season, and it’s in Deaf Valley. Should be fun to watch.
LSU 20 VT 16
MTSU
Oh, please.
LSU 56 MTSU 6
South Carolina
Wellllll now. This could have been interesting, if it were in Columbia. But down in the big drunk-tank by the Gulf, I can’t see even Spurrier pulling off a miracle.
LSU 23 SC 13
At Tulane
Oh, please.
LSU 49 Tulane 9
Florida
Here we go. The pick of many as “round one” of the SEC Championship Game. The Gators have to travel to LSU. Nine of their defensive starters are new. Tebow is the full-time QB now. Lots of variables here. And of course Florida took down the Tigers in their “MNC” year of 2003 here, so it’s doable. However. However. However.
LSU 13 UF 10
At Kentucky
Trap game!! Trap game!! Sound the alerts and hide the kids, it’s the trap game!! Except, not so much.
LSU 34 UK 23
Auburn
This has turned into a true “home team always wins” series. Some LSU supporters claim that LSU has singled Auburn out as their biggest rival (though that that could change now that Saban’s at Alabama) (and meanwhile, Auburn considers LSU probably their, what, fifth biggest rival?). It has been a defensive slugfest par excellence the last few years. Auburn pulled out a last-second miracle in 2004; LSU watched AU’s kicker miss five FGs, any one of which would have beaten them, in 2005; AU won a game of steel from LSU in ’06, holding LSU to single digits. But AU has not won in Baton Rouge since the shellacking Tuberville handed them in ’99. I don’t see things going well this time. AU will score 17, which is pretty good on LSU in their own house. But LSU will score more.
LSU 23 AU 17
At Alabama
A huge game, at least from the perspective of the fans and the media. On the field, I expect a rather odd game to play out. Alabama’s usually-stout defense will be down a bit, while their recently-mediocre offense should be much improved. They’ll score a few points on LSU. But LSU will score more. It should be quite a circus.
LSU 31 Alabama 20
La Tech
Oh, please.
LSU 49 La Tech 6
At Ole Miss
Mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble OH CRAP IT’S LSU!
LSU 34 Ole Miss 13
Arkansas
If the Hawgs couldn’t get it done last year, I don’t know how they will this year.
LSU 24 Arkansas 20
Final record: 12-0. Except, I don’t think so. Something will happen. They won’t go undefeated. One of those teams will surprise me and everyone else and knock them off. But, game by game, I can’t find one that seems poised to do it.
So I think the 2007 season in the SEC West will be a weekly session of watching to see if anyone can take down LSU. Someone will do it. But who??
I think Florida, Auburn, and Alabama all have decent shots, though I see each of them as an underdog in that game. South Carolina and Kentucky are both set up to pull the monumental upset. And there’s Va Tech.
So pack your bags for the SECCG and the MNC Game, LSU. You got an extremely favorable schedule and you almost ran it. That’ll be good enough.
Maybe Les really is More! (Until you run him off in a couple of years. --ed.)
posted by Van Allen Plexico at 8:09 AM
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