Take your pick: Reveille sportswriters predict how LSU finishes season

By Jacob Hamilton | @jac0b_hamilt0n Josh Thornton | @JoshuaThornton_

October 27, 2016

LSU junior quarterback Danny Etling (16) makes a pass on Saturday Oct. 22, 2016 during the Tigers’ 38-21 victory over Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium.

The Daily Reveille’s sportswriters Jacob Hamilton and Josh Thornton predict how LSU finishes its season during the Tigers’ bye week.

Nov. 5: LSU vs. Alabama

Jacob Hamilton: Shoutout to Dwayne Thomas for exuding so much confidence when discussing LSU’s upcoming match against Alabama. Confidence is certainly a necessary requirement for beating the No. 1 team in the country, but that doesn’t mean it’s sufficient for defeating the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s defense is too big, too physical and too good. It will maul the LSU offensive line.

Alabama 29, LSU 20

Josh Thornton: LSU has been a completely different team under Ed Orgeron. The Tigers have broken three straight offensive records, but will face their toughest test of the season against Alabama. Before the season started, this seemed like the year the streak would end. LSU gets Alabama at home, and it has a veteran-laden team. The streak, however, won’t stop this year. LSU’s offensive line is more finesse than physical, which is why it struggled with Alabama last season. Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams will have a field day in LSU’s backfield. Alabama is too talented, and the Tide still have Nick Saban.

Alabama 31, LSU 14

Nov. 12: LSU at Arkansas

Hamilton: Just when I think Arkansas isn’t so bad, it loses to Auburn 56-3. That’s a 53-point loss in a game where Arkansas allowed Auburn to rush for nearly 22 (!) times more yards than the Razorbacks. That speaks to both the trash Razorback rushing attack (25 rushing yards) and garbage defense (543 rushing yards allowed). Those stats are so egregious, I don’t even know what to do with them. I’m sort of inclined to tell Leonard Fournette’s rushing record to move over because it might be shattered come Nov. 12 in Fayetteville.

LSU 42, Arkansas 17

Thornton: What’s gone under the rug are LSU’s back-to-back losses to Arkansas by the exact same amount of points. However, Brandon Allen is gone. The Razorbacks were dismantled by Auburn and can’t run the ball, and LSU’s defense is pretty stingy. Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice should be able to run all over the Razorbacks defense.

LSU 28, Arkansas 10

Nov. 19: LSU vs. Florida

Hamilton: The Gators definitely didn’t take kindly to being accused of dodging the Tigers a few weeks back, and LSU probably didn’t appreciate Florida players mocking Mike VI’s death. A game that already comes with its fair share of hostility will carry even more aggression between the two sides. Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio is less than great — he threw three interceptions versus Missouri — and Dave Aranda’s defense should feast against him.

LSU 27, Florida 17

Thornton: LSU-Florida have developed a strange rivalry the past few seasons. I’m sure the Gators have had this game circled on their calendar since last season. They’ll finally get their shot against LSU, but the result will be the same as the last five seasons. In the former Purdue quarterback bowl, Danny Etling and LSU will come out victorious. Florida’s quarterbacks have struggled and they don’t have a solid run game. Give me LSU in blowout.

LSU 27, Florida 3

Nov. 24: LSU at Texas A&M

Hamilton: TAMU and LSU are pretty evenly matched this year, IMO. The Aggies have yet to beat LSU since joining the Southeastern Conference, but this time around they have Trevor Knight, a more-than competent running back and the best defensive line in the country. That has to count for something.
I think the differentiator comes down to the LSU-Alabama game. If the Tigers somehow pull that off — and if the Aggies are the only thing standing in the way of the SEC title game — it won’t be close. But given that LSU loses to Alabama, it will lose that sense of “new season, new team” and won’t have much to play for against TAMU. Meanwhile, the Aggs will have plenty to play for, and that will show.

Texas A&M 31, LSU 16

Thornton: Texas A&M allowed 684 yards to Tennessee without Jalen Hurd, the Volunteers best running back. The Aggies defense on paper is better than before, but come on, if you watched the Tennessee game then you might have noticed Texas A&M had trouble tackling. Now imagine what the Aggies’ defense will do against more capable running backs Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice.

LSU 41, Texas A&M 21