College Football: Handicapping SEC’s Playoff Chances
By Lee Wardlaw
Oct 11, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; LSU Tigers mascot, Mike the Tiger, before the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Louisiana State Tigers (7-0) (4-0 SEC)
Remaining Games: at Alabama, vs. Arkansas, at Ole Miss, vs. Texas A&M
Why they’ll make it: Two words. Leonard Fournette. He’s racked up 1,352 and fifteen touchdowns and he’s the lead candidate on ESPN’s Heisman Watch Expert Poll. He also leads Southbound and Down’s Heisman Watchlist. Who could ask for more?
The passing offense underperforms dramatically. Just like ‘Bama, however, the defense is stout. The Bayou Bengals are your typical big, bad wolf of a college football defense. They rank seventeenth in the nation in total yards allowed, good for third in the SEC, which is just behind Alabama and Florida.
They say defense wins championships. This unit will need to turn up the pressure against some of the SEC’s most high-caliber offenses- whether it’s Alabama’s run attack or Ole Miss’s spread passing game. If they can, however, Fournette should be able to carry away the league trophy as the Bengals head to the nation’s college football podium.
Why they won’t make it: Wow… what a daunting schedule. On the road against the Alabama Crimson Tide, who Les Miles hasn’t beaten since late 2011.
No matter how close, they just can’t seem to get it. Plus a road game at Ole Miss? Now that’s a tall task right there. Especially with a passing offense that barely musters over 156 yards per game. That’s just pathetic. I’d be more sold if the Tigers had a two-dimensional offense.
Next: Ole Miss