Who thinks that LSU will win the NC this year?

[sportbama101]

I was reading in the Mobile paper today about sec teams not winning the NC back to back years. Do any of you think that LSU will win this year? If Bama can't win the NC I would like to see LSU win again.

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[TideFaninFl]

LSU, repeat? Not very likely, UGA may win it, Southern Cal possible....

 

[deliveryman35]

I think Nick Saban is a great coach, but a repeat seems very unlikely. Have you seen their schedule?

 

[bayoutider]

It took LSU almost 70 years to have back to back SEC championships so I just don't have much faith in LSU repeating as National Champs or co-National Champs.

Nick has done wonders getting LSU past their (ahem) past but with a tougher schedule and a few key losses I don't think it will happen. Bama fans know what it is like to be defending National Champs and the bullseye it puts on your program. Everyone is out gunning for you and every game is a big game.

The next question is will Nick find the new expectations too high? Will just winning games not be enough to satisfy the LSU fans and will these expectations run off the best coach they have hired in decades?

 

[mib3fan]

Personally, I figure LSU has just as good of a shot to win the national championship as anyone else, including Oklahoma, USC, and Miami. They return a lot of starters, and while they did lose some notable players, they certainly have enough young talent to make up for it.

But what about their schedule? It doesn't really seem that bad. Their main non-conference opponent is Oregon State, which is at Tiger Stadium. OSU was far from great last year, and they've lost their star to the NFL. Sure, they have to play Georgia and Florida, but they had to play those two last year and still won the title. Aside from that, it's nothing more than the usual opponents. While games against us, Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss won't be cakewalks, none of those four teams have anywhere near the talent that LSU does.

No doubt it's a longshot for them to repeat, just because it's that hard to win a national championship. However, I don't see how one could really put LSU that far down the list of contenders.

 

[owenfieldreams]

I look for LSU to be in the hunt again.The only stumbling block that could conceivably prevent them from making the NC game is a tough road schedule that has them @ Auburn & @ Georgia & Florida, back-to-back.

It may take a few games for QB JeMarcus Russell to settle in but they return (7) starters on D & they've had outstanding recruiting the last couple of years.

Saban has it going down there & I see no let up. I'd put them right there with SC & OK as one of the three most likely to make it to Miami....add Georgia to that list as well. Oct 2nd, between the hedges, will be epic.

 

[BamaRedemption]

I don't personally think they will repeat but like others have said it wouldnt be a shock if they did repeat.
I think of the two Co-Champs USC has the better shot at a repeat.
I think a good darkhorse champion for this year would Kansas State. Bill Snyder has took what was once the all time losingest program in D-1 history up until the 1990's to being one of the programs on the brink of breaking thru to win it all. The all time losingest percentage by K-State up until the 1990's is a factual statement by the way.
I think its K-States time to break thru.
RTR

 

[Crimson Surfer]

It is not surprising some football experts are picking LSU to repeat as the SEC football champion. After all, the school has one of the top coaches in college football, has recruited better than anyone else in recent years and is coming off its first national championship since 1958. It makes perfect sense, right?

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend."

LSU has no chance of repeating as national champion. And LSU's hopes of repeating as SEC champs are also very dim.

Who says?

History, that's who.

Since the SEC went to divisional play in 1992 with the staging of a championship game, three schools (other than LSU last year) have won the national title. They are Alabama (1992), Florida (1996) and Tennessee (1998).

You want to know how many repeated as SEC champs the following year?

None. Nada. Nil.

Road foes, past hold back LSU


[This message has been edited by Crimson Surfer (edited 07-04-2004).]

 

[RollTide85]

Predictions for 2004
-
Bama will win 9 games
-
Georgia will finally beat Florida
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Vandy will have winning season
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LSU will win the SEC
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USC will lose to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl
-

I accept all responsibility for these comments so you can feel free to burn me when the season is over, that is unless I turn out to be right.

ROLL TIDE ROLL

 

[jdpas29]

LSU will flop in 04 and rebound in 05.

 

[mib3fan]

I don't see how anyone can say that LSU is going to flop with all of their talent. They have a great coach and a ton of talent; teams with that don't flop.

Furthermore, trying to say that LSU won't win the title just because it didn't happen in the past with three other teams is absurd. '04 LSU is not '93 Alabama, '97 Florida, or '99 Tennessee.

As for winning the national championship, I figure a lot will depend on how fast Jamarcus Russell can step in and play. He has an incredible amount of talent, so in that area, he's an improvement over Mauck. However, he doesn't have the experience, but if he can catch on quickly, LSU will be tough to beat. Also, keep in mind that Russell, just like Mauck in '03, doesn't have to beat anybody. With a good running game, a very strong defense, and a very user-friendly offensive system, LSU can win with Russell at quarterback as long as they don't beat themselves. LSU does not need Russell to have a great year to win.

As for USC, they'll be tough to stop. Their schedule is fairly easy. If you look at ESPN.com's Top 25 for 2004, only one team that USC plays is on the list, Oregon State in 16th (who, by the way, LSU also plays). Of course that's not to say USC won't play some ranked teams, but I think you can look at their schedule and see that they don't have to play anyone the caliber of Georgia or Florida, and they don't have to worry about a conference championship game.

 

[owenfieldreams]

Redemption.....I agree about Bill Snyder. The job he's done & continues to do @ K-State is remarkable.

For the Wildcats to have a legitimate shot @ the whole enchilada, they've got some holes to fill, not the least of which is replacing QB El Roberson.

They also lost their top WR & two top OL-men. Sproles is back but the projected starter @ QB, Dylan Meier is no El Roberson.

Their D should be solid as well as their kicking game. The key to their season will be how well they come through 3 straight home games against O.U., Nebraska, & T-Tech followed by two tough back-to-back raod games against Mizzou & C.U. Mizzou is picked by many to win the North so K-State will have it's work cut out when the visit Columbia.

Snyder is tops when it comes to taking the fewest returning starters & meshing them with outstanding JUCO talent to come up with a winning squad every year.

I'm very worried about our game with them this year. We must go to Manhattan right after the Texas game.

 

[Bowens]

mib
Bama flopped in 2000 with great talent as well. We were preseason number 3 and went 3-8! Granted, Nick Saban is no Mike Dubose but my point is simply to show that anyone can flop. Bama won title in 92 and the next season we tied UTee and lost to who...a very lowly LSU team. In Tuscaloosa! LSU has great talent but how many times have we stated on this board that talent is great but you also need experience playing in the SEC. J Russell will learn quickly that he and his team are marked men. Every week, every team will be fired up to play the co-national champs because beating them would make a statement. Question is can an inexperienced LSU team play at that level for 11 games? I don't think they can, I think the back to back road games to uga and uf takes a toll and they drop one or even both.

 

[bamamoss2]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mib3fan:
Personally, I figure LSU has just as good of a shot to win the national championship as anyone else, including Oklahoma, USC, and Miami. They return a lot of starters, and while they did lose some notable players, they certainly have enough young talent to make up for it.

But what about their schedule? It doesn't really seem that bad. Their main non-conference opponent is Oregon State, which is at Tiger Stadium. OSU was far from great last year, and they've lost their star to the NFL. Sure, they have to play Georgia and Florida, but they had to play those two last year and still won the title. Aside from that, it's nothing more than the usual opponents. While games against us, Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss won't be cakewalks, none of those four teams have anywhere near the talent that LSU does.

No doubt it's a longshot for them to repeat, just because it's that hard to win a national championship. However, I don't see how one could really put LSU that far down the list of contenders. </font>

What he said!!!



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"May the Tide Be with You"

 

[mib3fan]

We did have some talent in 2000, but the fact is that we didn't have anywhere near the talent that many people thought we did. The so-called "Pancake Posse" was nothing more than overweight and overrated linemen. The defensive line was heavily dependant on incoming freshman, all of which either didn't qualify or didn't contribute. There was no leader on the team. Furthermore, we were all fools in not seeing that Shaun and Samuels were the heart and soul of that team, and without them we weren't much. That is nothing like LSU of 2004. Moreover, Saban is no Dubose, and you can't overestimate the impact of that.

But, "Question is can an inexperienced LSU team play at that level for 11 games?" What are you talking about? LSU returns 16 starters, by my count. They return 8 from a defense that was almost inpenetrable last year, and on offense, they return eight as well. Sure, they lost Clayton and Henderson, but Skyler Green will return, and he's probably one of the most explosive receivers in the country. Furthermore, the running game will be looking for a breakout with Justin Vincent as a sophomore, coming off a 1,000 yard season as a true freshman.

Also, as for Russell, mind you that he's not their only option. Marcus Randell also returns, and he can provide the solid play needed if Russell doesn't come around. Once again, with LSU's offensive system, you don't need a great quarterback to put up big numbers. A guy like Mauck, who had only average talent at best, can easily throw for 2,000 yards or more in the LSU offense. With that in mind, even an inexperienced quarterback with talent, or an experienced quarterback without a lot of talent, can put up big numbers.

Don't get me wrong, LSU might not win it all, and they most likely won't. However, if LSU is an "inexperienced" team, then we are essentially fielding a group of high school players.

 

[jdpas29]

1) noobie QB

2) both D Line threats are gone leaving only one effective D-Lineman (lavalais and hill). spears is good, but not as good as either of these.

3) no michael clayton


this alone will account for about 3 losses. that doesn't include any bad breaks.

 

[bamabake]

JD has it. Furthermore I don't agree that an inexperienced QB in this league can go undefeated even with a great cast. It is possible but unlikely. Look at the mistake Shane Mathews made in the '92 championship game and he was quite the field general. I do agree however that LSU is as good a pick as any team. I personally think that USC has the best shot at going undefeated, at least through the regular season. That team was and is ridiculously young.

 

[deliveryman35]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by owenfieldreams:
Redemption.....I agree about Bill Snyder. The job he's done & continues to do @ K-State is remarkable.

For the Wildcats to have a legitimate shot @ the whole enchilada, they've got some holes to fill, not the least of which is replacing QB El Roberson.

They also lost their top WR & two top OL-men. Sproles is back but the projected starter @ QB, Dylan Meier is no El Roberson.

Their D should be solid as well as their kicking game. The key to their season will be how well they come through 3 straight home games against O.U., Nebraska, & T-Tech followed by two tough back-to-back raod games against Mizzou & C.U. Mizzou is picked by many to win the North so K-State will have it's work cut out when the visit Columbia.

Snyder is tops when it comes to taking the fewest returning starters & meshing them with outstanding JUCO talent to come up with a winning squad every year.

I'm very worried about our game with them this year. We must go to Manhattan right after the Texas game. </font>

Owen,
I think K-State is definitely top 10 this upcoming season. As far as the Big 12 North is concerned, I think we can all agree that they have basically taken over the mantle held for so many years by the Huskers. I do think without question they will be the biggest regular season test for the Sooners. But I still say last year's Big 12 title game was a fluke, and OU should beat them this season in Manhattan. What's the stadium capacity there? 40,000-50,000? I would be willing to bet quite a few OU fans will be making the trip to Manhattan this year and the crowd won't be a factor.....By the way, do you think Coach Switzer will be on the sidelines like he was during the 2000 game at Manhattan??

[This message has been edited by deliveryman35 (edited 07-05-2004).]

 

[mib3fan]

A QB with little or no experience cannot go undefeated in this league, eh? It's a good thing you guys weren't giving advice to Jay Barker or Tee Martin.

 

[Bowens]

mib
LSU is fielding a team with not much experience. Yes, we will be fielding practically a high school team. How many true frosh do we need to come and contribute? I just don't see with what they lost how they can repeat. I think they will win most games but in the big ones...secc and bowl...it will become painfully obvious what they lost.