re: What do you think is a reasonable record for LSU in 2010?

That's one hell of a schedule with a big OOC schedule also. I would call 10 wins a successful season, although if we end up out of the West race early again it could get ugly even with 10 wins.

UNC-W (close but LSU has always played well in the GA dome)
@Vandy-W
Miss St.-W (closer than the experts think, hopefully its not the 11:21 game on the SEC net. If it's at night, LSU wins by 2 TD's)
WV-W (Noel Devine would have given the mountaineers a chance, but young skill players for WV will have bug eyes playing Sat night in Death Valley)
Tenn-W (New QB, New coach. They will compete soon, but not yet)
@UF- Toss Up
Mcneese St- W
@Auburn- Toss Up
Alabama-Toss Up (I love LSU coming off a bye though)
UL-Monroe-W
Ole Miss-W (W/o Mccluster, LSU finally beats OM again)
@Ark- Toss Up (Mallet coming back really pissed me off)


10-2 if we split the toss ups. 3 of the 4 games i have as toss ups are on the road. This team will have to grow up fast to even think about going undefeated. Its obvious the offense has to get better. Crowton has to get the ball to playmakers more, and establish a run game especially on the road. Chavis defense should be better and they have to focus on getting the hell off the field on 3rd down. LSU has all the tools to get back to the promised land this season, the trick is putting it all together.

I think we go 9-3 with losses at...

Auburn
Florida
Arkansas


Miles evens up with Saban at 2-2. Depending upon what everyone else does, though, I think we'll still have a chance to make it to Atlanta. Also, I think all three of the above losses will be close and it is possible we sneak away with a victory in one of them to end the season with only 2 losses. No way does Bama go undefeated in the conference again. They will lose at least two conference games (one of those losses will be to LSU).

Regardless what anyone says and whether it's right or wrong, there is no way in Hell Les Miles gets fired if he loses 3 games or less in the regular season. I really think it would help the fans' perception of Miles if we can find a way to make it to Atlanta and the SECCG in 2010, regardless of what our final regular season record is.

Making it to Atlanta in 2010, no matter how we do it, would finally prove wrong the theory that "LSU is in a downward spiral under Miles."

i think we can go 11-1 if the offensive line comes through for us.

and IMO the only way Miles gets the boot this upcoming offseason is if we lose to Bama and Saban at home. (though a record like 9-3, 8-4 would also get him the boot)

I think there are five toss ups. UNC, Florida, Auburn, Bama, and Arky. I think we should win 3 of those at least. 11-1 is a real possibility, but so is 8-4. I am leaning more towards the 10-2

Your right, UNC could easily be a toss up. They are going to be fired up as hell for that game, and LSU has been flat during openers some of the past few seasons. Its just difficult for me to think LSU loses their opener in the GA dome.

You are also very right on the 8-4 possibility... they may lose 4 toss ups. I was just splitting the 4... hopefully we can find a way to get at least 3 of the 4 i have because that would probably put LSU in ATL w/ a NC birth at stake.

I'm glad you posted this, because some of these answers are amazing.

I told myself I wouldn't post anything negative today, but it's almost midnight.

4 losses coming from these five opponents Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss, or Alabama will result in a change at the top.

How does anyone realistically think that the same HC, OC, and QB could result in a better record versus a tougher schedule with no returning experience at RB and WR, and with less experience at almost every other position?

RG and RDE is the only positions that I think we can safely say will be upgraded in the short term.

I would love to see only 2 losses, and 3 would be significant improvement to me, regardless of the opponent, but I just can't see it happening.

quote:

---

How does anyone realistically think that the same HC, OC, and QB could result in a better record versus a tougher schedule with no returning experience at RB and WR, and with less experience at almost every other position?

---

More experience at QB.

More experience at C, maintained experience at LT (presuming Barksdale takes the job).

Added depth to DL.



Schedule is tougher in terms of home/away, but easier because UF won't be nearly the same, Auburn will be back down, Bama loses key parts on D and we get them coming off a bye, OM loses their best offensive player and their starting QB, not to mention a handful of key defensive guys....

Lose to UNC, Auburn, Florida, Alabama, and either Arkansas or Ole Miss. But we win the Indy Bowl and go 8-5.

I think the defense for LSU should be pretty good. The secondary will have a lot of experience and be one of the best in the nation. The defensive line should also be much improved. Alem was a disappointment as a senior and I don't think Woods and Alexander (after all his injuries) should be tough to replace. The only question mark is at OLB, but I trust Chavis.

Special teams should be excellent again on coverage. Jasper is an All-America candidate and Helton's punts are hard to return. However, I am a little nervous about the return game.

Offense is going to be the key though. QB should be a big improvement, but we are losing our LT, top WR, starting TE, and top 3 RBs. That's a lot to make up and why I am surprised at the 11-1 predictions. I realize Florida will be down, and I think we may even beat them on the road next year, but the road games against Arky and Auburn frighten me. Hell, I don't think UNC is that good, but I expect a close game (21-17 maybe) in the Dome.