22. LSU

Rivals says: Oregon State

I say.....

22. LSU Tigers

To Tigers fans, this will undoubtedly seem like an unjustifably low starting spot for their beloved team, but being a top tier SEC team does not automatically get you a great start in my polls. Since winning the national title two years ago, the Tigers have lost 5 and 4 games in each their most recent seasons, and have lost all the big ones. This team is godd, but treading water, and that won't cut in this years SEC. Alabama is now the undoubted top prgram in the West, and Arkansas and Auburn look to be a great deal better this year. LSU's position near the top of the division will be challenged in a season where every single team in it is good enough to go bowling. The Tigers are better but they are not getting better, which makes them a dangerous team to bet on.

The offense was really bad last year, finishing 112th in the nation in total yards, and while the talent is there to be better, the talent was better than that last year too. The offensive line looked absolutely abysmal in conference play last season and will have to be better if the Tigers want any chance at a conference title. QB Jordan Jefferson is the defintion of average and will not win games single handedly, so the line has to be better if this team wants to win games. The rushing attack finished near the bottom of the SEC as well. Quite simply, LSU needs to play to their own level of talent, and head coach Les Miles needs to get that much out of them.

The defense is good but it isn't great. The defense was poor last season against the run and good against the pass but unless the offense improves it will need to find a way to be good against both. The secondary is deep with NFL-caliber talent and should provide the Tigers some chances to stay in games they shouldn't be in. The run defense and pass rush must improve however, finishing 87th in sacks again just won't do it.

The schedule is pretty good in the SEC, but the addition of out of conference games against West Virginia and North Carolina makes it look pretty tough. The good news is that the Tigers get to skip Georgia and South Carolina in conference play this year, and they'll get Alabama at home after a week off. The breaks end there though as they must hit the road against Auburn, Florida, and the regular season finale at Arkansas.

Prediction: 4th, SEC West.