The Daily Reveille sports staff shares their thoughts and score predictions before LSU’s game against Miami
Kennedi Landry | Most important game of the season?
The football season is long, and anything can happen on any given night, but LSU’s home opener against Miami may be the most important game of the season.
The first game always sets the tone, but after an offseason of relative uncertainty at multiple positions, the Tigers must go into AT&T Stadium and prove they can compete with the rest of the country. With a new offense, a new quarterback and unproven running backs, Sunday’s game is the perfect opportunity to showcase them.
Starting the season 0-1 would put LSU in a hole before its schedule gets even tougher, with a game at No. 9 Auburn two weeks later and home games against both national championship contenders, No.1 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia.
A win against No. 8 Miami would show that LSU is a contender. The momentum would likely carry into the rest of the season and give the Tigers and extra boost in the national rankings.
Score prediction: Miami 24, LSU 20
Glen West | Secondary
LSU has dubbed the name DBU for years now and this crop of defensive backs is no different. One side is set in stone with consensus first round draft pick Greedy Williams handling one side of the field.
But with just over two days to go, the rest of the depth chart is still up for grabs. Opposite Williams will be either freshman Kelvin Joseph or recently reinstated junior cornerback Kristian Fulton. Both guys figure to see playing time but it will be interesting to see the snap count and any potential rust Fulton could show having not played a snap since the 2016 Citrus Bowl.
In the nickel slot, sophomore Kary Vincent Jr. and graduate transfer Terrence Alexander will battle for playing time.
Regardless of who wins the position battles, the secondary has a strong mix of playmaking skills and talent. What else is new?
Score prediction: Miami 10, LSU 12
Brandon Adam | Time for wide receivers to make their mark
When kickoff comes around it’ll have been 235 days since offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger proclaimed that the wide receivers were the strength of the offense at his introductory press conference in January.
At that time, LSU had just lost its top two receivers, DJ Chark and Russell Gage, to graduation off of a team that just months prior LSU coach Ed Orgeron said didn’t have the talent at receiver to run four-wide. Not to mention, at that point in time, incoming signee Terrace Marshall was recovering from a gruesome leg injury that ended his senior season, Ja’Marr Chase still hadn’t even signed with LSU — much less made any indication he was going to, and the name Joe Burrow hadn’t even been thought of in the state of Louisiana.
Ensminger’s bold proclamation relied solely on what LSU had returning at receiver, which was hardly nothing, or maybe it was the fact that the rest of the offense was so devoid of talent that the receivers were truly the strength of the team.
Either way, it’s time for the receivers to prove Ensminger right, or just prove something at all. The top four receivers, Texas Tech transfer Jonathan Giles, sophomore Justin Jefferson, Marshall and Chase have a combined zero receptions in an LSU uniform.
The young, unproven group of receivers is either going to sink or swim against Miami’s secondary led by preseason AP All-American safety Jaquan Johnson. For Orgeron and Ensminger’s sake, hope Giles, Jefferson, Marshall and Chase can swim against the Hurricanes.
Score prediction: Miami 20, LSU 17
Chris Caldarera | All eyes on the Joe Burrow
Quarterbacks don’t just drive the offense down the field to score touchdowns. At LSU, the man under center occupies, perhaps, the most controversial position in the last decade. Since 2005, 20 quarterbacks have signed with the purple and gold but only four have finished their careers as Tigers. This Sunday Joe Burrow will attempt add his name to the list of finishers, and many fans will be wondering if they will finally see the missing piece in the LSU quarterback puzzle.
Burrow beat out fellow Tiger quarterback Myles Brennan for the starting job in a competition coach Ed Orgeron claimed to be a tight race that “seesawed back and forth.” Summer camp reps were split 428 to 427 between Burrow and Brennan, and each was graded on a daily basis.
Fans are excited about Burrow’s ability, but there will be no time for the graduate transfer to settle into his new role as starter. LSU has one of the toughest schedules in the country, and this weekend’s season opener against Miami will be no cake walk. However, a week one upset in LSU’s favor could provide crucial confidence and momentum to an unproven quarterback and team.
Score prediction: LSU 27 Miami 17