re: Honest assessment taking off our purple and gold glasses…

For those predicting that LSU wins by double digits, consider that since the 2011 season (15 football seasons), LSU has won 13 true road games (i.e., not bowl games or playoff games) against ranked teams.

Only three of those wins were by double digits:

@ #25 Missouri in 2023 [49-39]
@ #25 Miss State in 2011 [19-6]
@ #16 West Virginia in 2011 [47-21]

Not even the greatest college football team in history won by double digits against its two ranked road opponents (45-38 @ Texas; 46-41 @ Bama).

Saturday will be a war.

The Tigers will hammer them! Won’t be close.

Chambliss and the refs will take control. OM by 14.

Wow that’s an interesting stat. That 2023 Missouri win being by double digits is kind of almost an asterisk as well since we only won by double digits because Major Burns ran his pick back for a TD at the end of the game instead of him sliding and us kneeling it out.

The truth is that our wide receivers, except for Green, have not been able to run routes with conviction or create much space. And they have also dropped numerous balls.

I like Leavitt, but to be honest, I think he has somewhat struggled in passing. He is inconsistent, and while he has made some good throws, he has made an equal # of poor ones; along with making some passes that were flat out "wild". And I'm not talking about the intercepted balls.

I'm not dogging Leavitt - he is very good. But he has been, and after 2 games, is somewhat scary. His elite running ability has made up for his...lets hope...."rusty" play so far. I think he "can" and likely will improve in his passing. But will there be wide receivers who are open for him to hit?!? And can, or will, they catch them? I'm not sure they are good enough, at this point, to catch passes that might be less than perfect, or where they have to fight for them. And my above "analysis" or take was against a weak Clemson and a pretty good La Tech team.....Both @ Home!

LSU has not been challenged at the level they are fixing to be. And Leavitt, who except for running, has been "rusty". And he has.....thrown interceptions! Will some of his flaws be exasperated in his very first "real" hostile/difficult collegiate environment. Sam has NOT played in packed stadiums, or in front of crowds/fans like opposing SEC environments.

It's just hard to know how anyone - especially QB's - can or will perform in extremely loud, hostile atmospheres where the pressure is really on!?! I sincerely hope he excells, rather than "clam up", get flustered. I think he will do fine!

However, if he does'nt.......I just hope Lane/Weis will substitute him for Landon Clark SOON ENOUGH before another potential spate of interceptions! Clark has looked VERY GOOD!!. Both running and especially passing! We have NOT seen his "upside". How do we, or can anyone, including coaches, really know how good he might be DURING GAMETIME....with the entire First String. Some players thrive under pressure, in games. I'm just being curious. And would like to see him given a real, legit opportunity, under pressure to see how good his upside, or downside, might be. A series or 2, early in the game, and we would see/know! If he struggles.....pull him.

Having said all that, I think LSU wins convincingly. Most everyone else who has commented above has already done a good job of rightly praising the defense. So I won't repeat what has already been said, which I agree with.

There are many other positives, strengths that LSU possess. But have not really been tested yet against strong competition and/or a difficult environment. Again, I think LSU rises to the challenge. But nothing is certain - yet. We will see/know more soon, and hopefully be very happy!

Geaux Tigers

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Honest assessment taking off our purple and gold glasses…

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A bunch of pundits are going with Ole Miss. Maybe they'll be right?

Ole Miss ranks 17th nationally in total offense, 44th in total defense.
LSU is 3rd, and 1st respectively.

Unless we do something really stupid like throw a couple of pick-6's or fumble away touchdowns, I think LSU wins this by 10-17pts.

I think that LSU probably pulls ahead in the 4th quarter. The Tigers have more talent. Switch Umanmielen and Dottary back toOle Miss and I’d favor them by five.

The key to LSU winning, aside from turnovers, is containing Chambliss’ running. I don’t know why teams struggle with that so much. When Chief and Aranda were DCs at LSU we routinely cage rushed scrambling QBs and destroyed them. But it takes a disciplined approach, and I don’t know if that’s Baker’s style. We’ll see.

Relatively low scoring game in which both offenses have difficulty sustaining drives against both defenses, especially early. Offenses get going in the second half as the defenses tire and adjustments are made. Ole Miss has the intangibles playing at home in a revenge game. 26-24 Ole Miss in a game that will be decided late. Shouldn’t affect our playoff chances if we can get our offense rolling as the season progresses.

LSU's D will have to carry the team on it back. We have to hope Leavitt doesn't lose the game.