Expectations for Wash. game as high as Weekend at Bernie's II?

Expectations. What were yours heading into the LSU Tigers’ 2012 campaign? An undefeated season capped by a BCS national championship? Total domination of every opponent? A high-flying offense with QB Zach Mettenberger routinely throwing for 300+ yards?

After last week’s outing against North Texas, are your expectations for the Bayou Bengals unchanged or perhaps lowered just a bit? (Especially after watching Bama stomp Michigan. Yikes.) I must confess that I expected more from LSU in its season opener. Yes, I know they won 41-14, had a weird game week with Hurricane Isaac, used a vanilla game plan, and it’s tough to play your best against the likes of North Texas. But the game just wasn’t that fun to watch and I retired for the evening feeling underwhelmed.

Let’s face it. High expectations are often a prelude to disappointment. For example, all of us enjoyed the 1985 film, Teen Wolf, a smart movie about an awkward teen who inherits a werewolf’s traits after it attacks him. We eagerly anticipated the sequel – 1987’s Teen Wolf Too. But, alas, it sucked.

Who didn't love Weekend at Bernie’s, the 1989 movie about two insurance company losers who pretend their boss isn’t dead so they can carry on the party at his house in the Hamptons? Then came Weekend at Bernie’s II, the sequel in 1993. Though our expectations were through the roof, alas, it sucked.

Our LSU Fighting Tigers have a golden opportunity to avoid being a Teen Wolf Too, Weekend at Bernie’s II, and every other bad sequel that was ever made. Call me a “negatiger,” but I thought the Tigers looked disinterested and removed from the start of that North Texas game.

Expect that to change this Saturday night in Death Valley. With the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 visiting Tiger Stadium before a live national audience on ESPN, the sequel to the Tigers’ week one performance should deliver. Will a Pac-12 defense be up for bruising LSU running backs Kenny Hilliard and company? This is a defense that surrendered 199 rushing yards to San Diego State last week, so expect Les Miles to pound the rock on the ground.

Will the Huskies’ offense – relying heavily on quarterback Keith Price and perhaps a few other contributors, none of whom I care to research at this point in the article – actually be able to keep the stout LSU defense off balance?

As a motivational tool, Washington coach Steve Sarkisian had a live tiger attend the team's practice on Tuesday. According to one Washington player, the idea was to “eliminate distractions” and prepare the team for its trip to Baton Rouge. Conducting practice in the presence of a live bengal tiger is just the trick to eliminate distractions. Everyone knows that.

I can’t figure out whether I expect LSU to steamroll the Huskies or just hope that it happens. Do I expect Zach Mettenberger to develop a pocket presence or hope that he will? Expect the Tigers to devour a non-conference opponent on a Saturday night on the bayou or hope they will? It’s probably a little of both in the second week of a long college football season.

LSU’s road to redemption continues this Saturday night with an expectation-fulfilling win.

Prediction:

LSU 47
Washington 17

Geaux Tigers!