Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going team-by-team through the SEC, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, the 2019 LSU preview!
2019 LSU Preview
I’ve got to lead off by giving it up to Coach O, y’all. I love the guy, but when he was announced as the LSU head coach, I thought “I don’t know if he’ll be there in three years.” Well look at him now!
Coming off a 10-win season that included beating the defending National Champs (I joke) UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, it feels like the 2019 season could be HUGE for the Tigers. LSU brings back a lot of talent (7 returning starters on offense and 8 on defense) and they added a stellar recruiting class that includes #2 rated running back John Emery, Jr. Emery may not be bringing in ‘Fournette hype’ but the guy is gonna battle for the starting job heading into Week 1.
Along with the top notch recruits, Coach O coaxed Joe Brady away from the New Orleans Saints to be the passing game coordinator. Brady is hoping to liven up an offense that started to really get some traction going toward the end of last year. That, along with the team transitioning to a more run, pass, option (which quarterback Joe Burrow is used to from his high school days), and the ceiling for this offense could be skyscraper level.
The defense will have some familiar faces from last year’s 25th nationally ranked squad minus some big names. Devin White and Greedy Williams are gone but there still is a lot of talent to line up with. The defensive line should be the strength as Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP Rashard Lawrence is back along with Glen Logan and Breiden Fehoko. The linebacking and secondary corps will be a mix of veterans and newcomers which tells me you may want to see LSU earlier in the schedule. If/when this group gets locked in, I don’t know if they’ll take much of a step back even with their personnel.
2019 Tigers Schedule
8/31 vs. Georgia Southern – Big, blowout win for the home team to get things started.
9/7 @ Texas – Coach O vs. Tom Herman y’all! I’m pretty fired up for this game and LSU will be too as this is one of the few games that could go against them. That said, Texas lost A LOT of talent on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, so I expect LSU to get the job done.
9/14 vs. Northwestern St. – Back home in the bayou and another smashing win for the Tigers.
9/21 @ Vanderbilt – With all the firepower Derek Mason is bringing back to Vandy, I really want to give LSU the ole “Watch out sweetheart” but I just can’t. Maybe it’s close for a half, but I totally expect a Tiger win in Nashville.
10/5 vs. Utah St. – Expect another bayou blowout my friends.
10/12 vs. Florida – HERE WE GO! LSU’s first competitive home game comes nearly halfway through October but boy is it a big one. Dan Mullen has Gainesville fired up after winning 10 games in his first season. This one could be a knockdown, drag out fight based off the talent for both defenses, so I’m gonna go with the better offensive line aka LSU.
10/19 @ Mississippi St. – Not only does Joe Brady have ties to the Saints but he also sat under the learning tree of Bulldogs coach Joe Moorhead when he was the offensive coordinator at Penn St. This will be a cool moment for both of those guys, but I just don’t think Mississippi St has the pieces to beat this Tiger team. Still, coming off a big game like UF this one could be interesting.
10/26 vs. Auburn – The battle of the Tigers though this one may not be much of a battle. The Auburn offensive line struggled at times last year, but the entire group is back this year so take that for what it’s worth. Big questions at the quarterback and running back positions for Auburn has me saying ‘Geaux Tigers.’
11/9 @ Alabama – This is it. This is the game where we really find out if the Coach O led Tigers are gonna take that next step. Are they a really good team that’s gonna bring in double digit wins every year but can’t get over the Bama hump? Or are they a legit playoff contender? Of course I’m picking Saban to get the job done, but maybe…just maybe…Coach O has some magic with this offense.
11/16 @Ole Miss – Matt Luke is doing what he can but this one could get ugly fast in favor of the Tigers.
11/23 vs. Arkansas – I expect Arkansas to be better than last year but that really isn’t saying much. Give me LSU by a lot.
11/30- vs. Texas A&M – We all remember the insanity these two gave us last year and even though I’m not one to count out Jimbo Fisher, I’m just not sold on the Aggie defense heading into the year. I like LSU at home especially if they’re heading into the final week with only that loss to Bama on them.
Prediction
This could be a special year down in Baton Rouge. The schedule isn’t gonna keep Tiger fans up at night and even if they find themselves leaving Tuscaloosa with a loss (assuming it’s their only one) they could still be in playoff contention heading into championship weekend. Anything short of 9 to 10 wins for this team would be a surprise.
OTHER 2019 SEC SEASON PREVIEWS
Alabama Crimson Tide
Florida Gators
John Mosley is the independent wrestling correspondent of the SoBros Network. He graduated from ETSU with a degree in Radio, TV and Film along with a minor in Film Studies. Since graduating he’s done pretty much nothing but watch, film, edit or commentate for local wrestling promotions and is the current color commentator for Resolute Wrestling. #Preds #Titans #DefendOrVacateConor Follow on Twitter: @SoBroMose.
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