ESPN Analyst Debates LSU's Chances Of Making The College Football Playoff

ESPN College Football analyst Heather Dinich recently wrote about 31 teams that the CFP selection committee might consider for the upcoming 12-team playoff.

LSU came in at No. 10 on her list. Here's what she had to say about the Tigers:

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10. LSU Tigers

Last year's record: 7-6

Overall CFP record: 2-0

ESPN Analytics: Make playoff: 39.7% | Win national title: 3.5%

DraftKings odds to win the national title: +1800

Agree or disagree with ESPN Analytics: Agree. The computers also have LSU at No. 10 when it comes to the Tigers' chance to reach the playoff. Expectations are soaring for coach Lane Kiffin's first season. Kiffin will have veteran quarterback Sam Leavitt and defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who led two top-15 defenses in the past three years, to help him. The question is how quickly they can put it all together because the schedule doesn't allow time to work out the kinks.

Toughest test: Sept. 19 at Ole Miss. Former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin will return to Oxford to coach against his old team and several former assistants, including Rebels coach Pete Golding. This game will impact the SEC race, the CFP ranking and, of course, the simmering storyline of Kiffin himself.

What the committee will like: A season-opening win against Clemson. No, the hype isn't as high as it was a year ago when these teams met, but Clemson should be one of the most improved teams in the country. Clemson's 7-6 finish last year was confounding, but coach Dabo Swinny made some significant personnel changes -- roster and staff -- that should boost the Tigers back to respectability. That would mean a measurable boost to LSU's résumé, especially if Clemson finishes in the CFP top 25.

What the committee won't like: An 0-2 start to November. If LSU loses back-to-back home games against Alabama and Texas in its first two games of the month, will there be enough time to move up before Selection Day? It's not that a two-loss LSU team can't qualify for the CFP, but it's also not a guarantee (see: two-loss Notre Dame, BYU, Vandy and Utah last year). That's also assuming LSU doesn't stumble early against Clemson and/or Ole Miss. Historically, it has been better to lose early than late, and if LSU starts November 0-2, it will be under tremendous pressure to finish the season with back-to-back road wins against Tennessee and Arkansas, and it will need to hope both of those opponents fare better than last year's combined 10-15 finish.

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Here's what LSU's schedule looks like this season:

Sep 5 vs. Clemson
Sep 12 vs. Louisiana Tech
Sep 19 at Ole Miss
Sep 26 vs. Texas A&M
Oct 3 vs. McNeese State
Oct 10 at Kentucky
Oct 17 vs. Mississippi St.
Oct 24 at Auburn
Nov 7 vs. Alabama
Nov 14 vs. Texas
Nov 21 at Tennessee
Nov 28 at Arkansas