Predicting the 2020 SEC Football Season: Game 7 - LSU Tigers

We head down to the bayou for installment number seven of wild blind dart-throwing predictions.

GAME 7: LSU TIGERS

Coach: Ed Orgeron (40-9, SEC 23-7, beginning his fifth season at LSU; 56–36 overall)

2019 record: 12-0, 3-0 in postseason (8-0 in SEC, 1st in the West Division)

CB969 2019 Prediction: 9-3; “LSU should be good, but not great. I am still not sure that Joe Burrow is the kind of QB that can lead a team to grand accomplishments...” Hey, who knew?

Looking back: They won ‘em all. Auburn (3 points) and Alabama (5 points) put up the biggest fights.

Returning starters: 2 on offense, 2 on defense, punter, kicker.

Key losses: Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda (head coach Baylor), Pass game coordinator Joe Brady (Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator), QB Joe Burrow (Round 1, Bengals), LB Patrick Queen (Round 1, Ravens), EDGE K’lavon Chaisson (Round 1, Jaguars), WR Justin Jefferson (Round 1, Vikings), RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Round 1, Chiefs), C Lloyd Cushenberry (Round 3, Broncos), CB Kristian Fulton (Round 2, Titans), S Grant Delpit (Round 2, Browns), G Damien Lewis (Round 3, Seahawks), T Saahdiq Charles (Round 4, Washington), LB Jacob Phillips (Round 3, Browns), DT Rashard Lawrence (Round 4, Cardinals), LS Blake Ferguson (Round 6, Dolphins), TE Stephen Sullivan (Round 7, Seahawks), TE Thaddeus Moss, LB Michael Divinity, G Adrian Magee, DT Breiden Fehoko, LB Marcel Brooks (transfer TCU), WR Ja’Marr Chase (opt out), Kary Vincent Jr. (opt out), DT Tyler Shelvin (opt out).

Top returnees: DB Derek Stingley, DB JaCoby Stevens, RB John Emery, WR Terrace Marshall, OL Austin Deculus, OL Ed Ingram, PK Cade York, DL Glen Logan, DT Nelson Jenkins (opted back in), OT Dare Rosenthal (left school in the spring for “personal reasons” is now back), P Zach Von Rosenberg.

Top newcomers: OLB Jabril Cox (grad transfer North Dakota State), OT Liam Shanahan (Harvard grad transfer), TE Arik Gilbert (Marietta, GA), DB Elias Ricks (Bradenton, FL), WR Kayshon Boutte (New Iberia, LA), DT Jaquelin Roy (Baton Rouge, LA), LB Phillip Webb (Sugar Hill, GA), DB Jordan Toles (Baltimore, MD), OL Marcus Dumervil (Fort Lauderdale, FL), DT Jacobian Guillory (Alexandria, LA), DC Bo Pelini.

Name you need to know: Jabril Cox is a much-needed graduate transfer from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State who should make an immediate impact with the Tigers in 2020. Last season with the Bison, he had 92 tackles, 57 of which were solo, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks from his linebacker position.

Strengths: Confidence? Still on a NC high?... Stingley and JaCoby Stevens in the secondary... Safety Todd Harris is back after an injury caused him to miss all but one game in 2019... Special teams... Orgeron’s Cajun VooDoo Black Magick...

Weaknesses: The mass exodus... One returning starter on OL... Major downgrade at QB and many other positions... Front seven is inexperienced... Bo Pelini is switching from Aranda’s multiple 3-4 back to a 4-3. How will this work out with no spring practice?...

Outlook: Despite all the new faces in Red Stick, this is still a good football team. They will be highly competitive in 2020.

2020 SCHEDULE:

Sat, Sep 26 vs Mississippi State - W
Sat, Oct 3 @ Vanderbilt - W
Sat, Oct 10 vs Missouri - W
Sat, Oct 17 @ Florida - L
Sat, Oct 24 vs South Carolina - W
Sat, Oct 31 @ Auburn - W - Is this one of those game Aubie shouldn’t win but does?
Sat, Nov 7 bye
Sat, Nov 14 vs Alabama - L
Sat, Nov 21 @ Arkansas - W
Sat, Nov 28 @ Texas A&M - L - could go either way
Sat, Dec 5 vs Ole Miss - W

ALABAMA SCHEDULE:

Sat, Sep 26 @ Missouri
Sat, Oct 3 vs Texas A&M
Sat, Oct 10 @ Ole Miss
Sat, Oct 17 vs Georgia
Sat, Oct 24 @ Tennessee
Sat, Oct 31 vs Mississippi State
Sat, Nov 14 @ LSU
Sat, Nov 21 vs Kentucky
Sat, Nov 28 vs Auburn
Sat, Dec 5 @ Arkansas

Full SEC schedule