Can LSU reach the CFP? Our picks for the 2015 college football season – NOLA.com
The college football season kicks off in less than a week when Tulane and QB Tanner Lee take on Duke Thursday Sept. 3 at 8:30 at Yulman Stadium. LSU follows with its home opener against McNeese State Saturday, Sept. 5.
LSU is considered a contender both for the SEC title and for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Here, our LSU coverage team weighs in on the Tigers’ chances.
Which will be the most surprising SEC team?
Jim Kleinpeter: LSU will surprise everyone but drop a close game to Bama in Tuscaloosa after going unbeaten to that point.
Randy Rosetta: LSU: Finally, a young quarterback will mature, emerge and give the Tigers a balanced offense by playing consistently. And the defense will show some new wrinkles and a much stouter constitution late in close games than the last few seasons and be a key reason why the Tigers get a shot in college football’s Final Four before losing to Michigan State.
Trey Iles: Missouri. I’m tempted to go with Arkansas here but the Tigers have proven themselves the last two seasons. Some holes in the lineup, but they could, again, win the SEC East.
Ron Higgins: It has to be LSU. Everybody has written of the Tigers because of the QB situation, but Brandon Harris steps up and steps up big.
Jerit Roser: The Tigers are extremely talented and appear to have a good attitude and chemistry about them. We’ll see how high/far they push into the SEC and national title races, but they should certainly be far more involved in that mix than people seem to expect them to be.
Jeff Duncan: LSU is being overlooked by pundits. The Tigers are loaded with talent and are hungry after a disappointing 2014 season. Most important, they get most of their key games in Tiger Stadium.
Which will be the most disappointing SEC team?
Jeff Duncan: Alabama doesn’t have a quarterback and must play at Georgia, Texas A&M and Auburn. The Crimson Tide will still be formidable but a 9-3 “transition year” looms.
Jerit Roser: Arkansas and Tennessee. Can I say both? If not, I’ll take whichever one loses their Oct. 3 matchup. Both teams made the coaches’ and media’s preseason Top 25, but Arkansas now has to face the SEC West without star running back Jonathan Williams, and I’m not buying Tennessee winning more than maybe — maybe — eight games until I see it happen.
Ron Higgins: It depends on the definition of “disappointing.” Tennessee is the trendy choice to win the East Division, or maybe jump from 7 wins last season to 10 wins this season. I don’t think either will happen, and if that’s a definition of “disappointing,” then maybe it’s the Vols.
Trey Iles: Georgia: In January, I really thought the Bulldogs could make a playoff run in 2015. The problem is no quarterback has emerged and that’s a big problem in the SEC. Look for another 9-3 season from a Bulldog team with better talent than that.
Randy Rosetta: Texas A&M: Offense will still be there early in the season, but the perceived magic of John Chavis’ arrival will fizzle early and often and leave the Aggies in a spot to have to win shootouts in the SEC. Too many other good offensive teams with decent defenses for that equation to work in A&M’s favor as it tumbles to the bottom of the West Division.
Jim Kleinpeter: Arkansas will crash and burn after losing half of its one-two running game punch (Jonathan Williams) and fail to live up to preseason expectations.
Who’ll win the Heisman Trophy?
Jim Kleinpeter: TCU QB Trevone Boykin: He’ll get the sympathy vote for his team being snubbed last year, especially after he guides the Horned Frogs into the CFB Playoff.
Randy Rosetta: Michigan St. QB Connor Cook: With two massive marquee games as a chance to shine (Oregon, at Ohio State), Cook will do just that and produce Heisman-worthy stats the rest of the way as well. Those numbers and an undefeated run to the College Football Playoffs will be the right recipe for him hoist Johnny H. in New York City.
Trey Iles: TCU QB Trevone Boykin: Barring injury, Boykin is poised for an outstanding season. Almost the entire TCU offense is back from last year and, let’s face it, the Horned Frogs don’t have a challenging schedule. That adds up to big statistical numbers for him.
Ron Higgins: Georgia’s Nick Chubb, because Bulldogs’ coach Mark Richt will have no problem giving Chubb 25 or more carries per game.
Jerit Roser: TCU QB Trevone Boykin: Quarterbacks have become the FAR safer bet to win the prestigious award (ask every running back over the past decade-plus, except for Mark Ingram and Reggie Bush), and the Buckeyes seem to have about a half-dozen legitimate candidates right now that may water down each of their own odds.
Jeff Duncan: Georgia running back Nick Chubb is going to put up monster numbers in Athens. He’s the most complete back in college football.
Which four teams will be in the CFP and who will win the national championship?
Jeff Duncan: Ohio State, Oregon, Southern Cal, LSU; Ohio State wins.
Jerit Roser: Ohio State, TCU, Alabama, LSU; Ohio State wins.
Ron Higgins: Ohio State, TCU, Stanford, LSU; Ohio State wins.
Trey Iles: Ohio State, TCU, Auburn, USC; Ohio State wins.
Randy Rosetta: Ohio State, TCU, Michigan State, LSU; TCU wins.
Jim Kleinpeter: Ohio State, TCU, Alabama, LSU; Ohio State wins.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
