🏈 I've settled on my next under for the '18 season--LSU 7.5.

[TerryP]

Football - Over/Under Win Totals For 2018

The other was FAU for those interested. We'll merge these in a few days.

Now, on LSU. I'm going under 7.5 and here's my reasoning.

The offensive plan is based on RPO. Nothing earth shattering there, right? In a "new scheme," if we can call it that, they are replacing both tackles as well as their H-back and tight end. Can they seal the corner well enough? I don't think so.

Running backs. As mentioned earlier it's the first season I can ever recall when I looked at their running backs, looked at last season for a reference, and don't find a single one that had a touchdown last season. Now, there's another question about how much of a threat the running game is in the RPO based offense.

Ensminger. Do I really need to go here?

Schedule. Miami, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, and Mississippi State all come before their bye-week. While LSU is playing Georgia, Mississippi State is sitting at home resting. Bama has their bye-week before LSU as do they. Following BAMA they're taking a trip to Arkansas and closing out with A&M.

IF LSU plays .500 ball out of that list they're over. I don't see it happening. And we've not even brought up Ole Miss.

It'll be in the Sportsbook when it's launched...

 

[TUSKtimes]

Is LSU going to the RPO/spread exclusively? I haven't kept up with them at all this year. But I thought after last season with Canada they wanted to get back to what they were running in 2016 during the interim period.

 

[TerryP]

Is LSU going to the RPO/spread exclusively? I haven't kept up with them at all this year. But I thought after last season with Canada they wanted to get back to what they were running in 2016 during the interim period.

In his first real public comments since his hire in January, Ensminger described a hurry-up, no-huddle scheme, calling it “more of a spread” system that will lean on what he calls the unit’s strength, receivers.​

​

“We don’t have the big back. We’re not going to be an I (formation) team. Our talent is our wide receivers,” Ensminger said. “Installed a lot more RPOs. Getting everybody involved in it. Fifty percent or more no-huddle team.”​

​

One, of several, articles on what they're planning. Steve Ensminger, Ed Orgeron open up on LSU's QB competition and new 'spread' offense

 

[TerryP]

The last time Ensminger called the offense for a RPO/spread attack--with a team that was going to feature wide receivers and didn't have that "name" running back--it lead to the head coach being fired, a QB shuffle between Kodi Burns and Chris Todd, Tate being held to less than 700 on the season rushing...2008, Auburn.

And get this...that's after he'd been the tight ends coach for a number of years...getting his promotion in the same fashion he just received it at LSU.

The similarities are eerie.

 

[TUSKtimes]

In his first real public comments since his hire in January, Ensminger described a hurry-up, no-huddle scheme, calling it “more of a spread” system that will lean on what he calls the unit’s strength, receivers.“We don’t have the big back. We’re not going to be an I (formation) team. Our talent is our wide receivers,” Ensminger said. “Installed a lot more RPOs. Getting everybody involved in it. Fifty percent or more no-huddle team.”One, of several, articles on what they're planning. Steve Ensminger, Ed Orgeron open up on LSU's QB competition and new 'spread' offense

If they do all that, this team is going to be mostly a pass-happy finesse team. That's going to be weird enough. He's right about one thing, they will have a need to get a couple of QBs ready.

Looks like just about every team in the WEST is going to be chunking the ball this season. Almost everyone in the EAST will be trying to run it first.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The last time Ensminger called the offense for a RPO/spread attack--with a team that was going to feature wide receivers and didn't have that "name" running back--it lead to the head coach being fired, a QB shuffle between Kodi Burns and Chris Todd, Tate being held to less than 700 on the season rushing...2008, Auburn.

And get this...that's after he'd been the tight ends coach for a number of years...getting his promotion in the same fashion he just received it at LSU.

The similarities are eerie.

Without knowing much about the Ohio State transfer up close, Kodi Burns and Chris Todd would have been a very accurate comparison with what they were going to put on the field this season. Maybe it still will.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Got on lsu forum last nite......( really boring tv nite and to hot outside)....
Fans still pissed about their AD ...and hiring Coach O.....
And so much reference to Bama n NS....lol
Not a lot of optimism.....its great