re: Yikes, Josh Pate a huge LSU guy picks us to finish 9-3 and 4th in SEC

Our schedule is brutal. Of the SEC games, only Arkansas at home looks like a Likely win, and even that game will be problematic due to Arkansas' bye week advantage, the same Saturday LSU travels to Bama. @ Vandy will be a problem for the same reason: they enjoy a bye-week advantage while LSU slugs it out at home vs. South Carolina.

The LSU offensive line is inexperienced and green; unproven. No less an authority than Phil Steele places this unit in a tie for 12th in the SEC, in a tie with Kentucky & Ole Miss, ahead of Miss. St and Vandy. An already beleaguered Garrett Nussmeier could spend more time on the seat of his pants than locating open receivers.

Josh Pate is an LSU homer; an optimist. 9-3 is out of reach, IMO.