re: Surprisingly we've opened as a 21 point favorite against Central Michigan

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I am going with Vegas on this one.

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Vegas is always slow to adjust (because the betting public is too)

They have whiffed on LSU so far this year thinking we are way better than we are, similar to how slow they were in 2019 to finally give LSU credit with their lines

CMU fan/football alum here. Reading through your posts, you all certainly seem to be down on your team right now. I have watched both of your games, so I have my own opinions but I'm actually here just to share a little about our team.
We are well coached. Jim McElwain is in charge and he has done a great job. He is recruiting well and the future is bright. We are VERY young. Look at our two deep. I haven't seen such a stat but I suspect we are amongst the youngest teams in college football.
We have a handful of NFL talent, a couple of guys with early round potential and some others who will likely get a shot.
I haven't the time, and you likely don't have the interest in all the back story but, a couple guys worth keeping your eyes on if you just like to see good football players: Troy Brown, #8 on defense. You will hear his name early and often. He is the heartbeat of the defense and makes plays all over the field. He is a converted safety who has grown into his role and just flat out makes plays. I think he is probably the best defensive player in our conference and he'd be a standout on any team, in any conference. On offense: #76 Bernhard Raimann. A german exchange student in high school, came to CMU (with his host family peer who also starts on our OL) as a TE and has grown into a dominant player at LT. He's still new to the position so some growing pains are surely ahead. But, the potential is there for a first round NFL draft grade. Very much reminds me of Joe Staley or Eric Fisher during their time at CMU. Raimann may actually be better (and that's comparing him to an NFL hall of famer and a number one overall pick). He had his way with Mizzou. He would be a standout OL on any team in any conference.
Our offense is headed by a transfer QB (Washington) who was once in the conversation with Trevor Lawrence as elite high school pro style QBs. He has shown an ability to stand in the pocket, and to sling it around. Good enough mobility, but certainly not a real threat in the running game. We are down our top RB to an ACL injury in camp (really good player) but do have the reigning offensive freshman of the year in the conference (Lew Nichols) stepping up. He's physical, strong, and tough. Lacks gamebreaking speed but gets the job done. Behind him is a converted DB with better speed who runs hard and takes some snaps out of the wildcat. Then we have three freshman who have each made a few plays in the first two weeks. Our TEs have been completely absent thus far in the passing game and our WR group is limited to about three guys who can make plays. Pimpleton is the guy defenses scheme to take away. Our staff will line him up all over and get the ball to him any way they can. He's little, but dangerous when he gets it. Sullivan and Dixon are both playing well and are on par with average SEC talent at WR. Beyond that, we have not much at WR. Our OL has been good and bad. They have shown and ability to open up some holes on the ground (to be frank they dominated Mizzou up front in the run game) and have pass protected well at times. BUT, they have gotten feasted on with LB blitzes and our QB has paid that price.
Our defense is our stronger side of the ball. If the offense keeps them fresh and helps out with field position this group is good. We lost a couple starters up front to injury/transfer in the summer (which sucks) but still look pretty solid on the DL. We can get pressure off the edges. Hairston is the reigning MAC defensive player of the year, but I'd argue he's no better than the 4th or 5th best player on our defense (he made a lot of plays in a shortened 2020 season). Johnson is a big time talent if he can stay healthy, and Incoom transferred up and in and has definitely made an impact. Our defense plays with pace, intensity, and risk. They will make plays behind the line of scrimmage, they will also give up the big play from time to time. Brown is so very good at LB and Douglas is solid if not spectacular as a tackler. Our safeties are solid and are effective in run support. Our corners make us nervous! The staff believe McNary is a really good player, and Kent is young and improving. They got absolutely torched last year and we are still having flashbacks. They have been better thus far this year but, we are still afraid from what we saw a year ago.
Our kicking game is also young, but solid. Both the punter and placekicker could do what they do for any team, anywhere. And, or freshman Alaskan kick off man thus far has been good enough.
I wish we had our next year team heading into this weekend with your this years team. But, that's not how it works!
We are good enough to make some plays, and if we stay healthy, could make the game uncomfortably interesting for you. But, I don't think we are quite yet ready for a win as big as this one would be for our program.
Looking forward to Saturday and, to be honest, just hoping to get our guys back home healthy as we have a chance to compete for a MAC championship if we can keep our top guys on the field.
I'll check back in if anyone has any questions.

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BUT, they have gotten feasted on with LB blitzes and our QB has paid that price.

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Good thing for CMU that LSU doesn't blitz. The defense has a hard enough time getting everyone lined up in position. Secret defensive playbook coming soon?

sounds like a great way for you to make some free money

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Goal (attainable)- settle in as competitive, 8-4/9-3 type of team, can't challenge Bama but has the talent to play with the rest of the SEC West.

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Scoob - you're usually a rational poster, but you're off base on this one.

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Notice I said- viewed from a distance.

I don't know how Vegas works, but I think it's based on bets placed a lot of times.

LSU is a nationally known commodity; your Iowa and Iowa State fans are aware of LSU. They know LSU gets good players, and that LSU had a weird situation last year with Covid and the optouts. They probably haven't followed the Orgeron drama that much, not like we have here. Guys like that probably still have LSU as an 9-3/8-4 team, and look at the UCLA game as a bump for UCLA, more than a rethinking of LSU.

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We're dreadful, and I don't see us getting much better. I think we'll start to lose players (not specifically from opting out, but emotionally) and the West looks strong this year, top to bottom

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I agree.

My point is this- I think without looking, Penn State also looked bad in 2020. I didn't follow it that closely, everything was crazy.
I definitely still expected Penn State to be good this year.

I think LSU gets that same feel nationally, and it hasn't changed YET. WE might see the change, but it's not acknowledged or noticed outside our sphere yet. Even on the SEC Rant, I see Bama and other posters, who while laughing, are also saying they aren't ready to declare us dead. They think the loss was simply an embarrassment, while we see it as evidence that the program is sliding badly.

Already down to 19.5