BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
In Stewart Mandel's latest Mailbag, one reader says Alabama has been more lucky than good vs. LSU. Oh, really? Plus, Steve Spurrier's tired barbs, the Big 12's schedule bias and more.
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While LSU's defense was not up to norm last year, and everyone knows about the high number of early departures for NFL draft, I wonder why LSU doesn't get the respect it deserves versus Alabama who is more lucky than good regarding schedule and inability to stop the spread. Who shut down Johnny Football the last two years. It wasn't Oklahoma or Alabama. And who was the only team to beat Auburn in the regular season?
-- Eric T, Saudi Arabia
LSUās getting plenty of respect given the fact itās replacing every key offensive skill player and lost yet another crop of NFL defenders. And I find it curious youād single out Alabama for trash-talking purposes given the Tide have won three straight against the Tigers, including by scores of 21-0 (in the 2012 BCS Championship Game) and 38-17 (last season).
I believe LSU will contend for the national title ā¦ in 2015. The freshmen Les Miles signed this year, most notably gifted running back Leonard Fournette, receiver Malachi Dupre and quarterback Brandon Harris, have a chance to accomplish something special in Baton Rouge, but itās asking a lot to depend on them so heavily as true freshmen. LSU will likely be up-and-down on offense this year, and unless it fields one of its vintage dominant defenses, the Tigers may suffer a few losses in a tough division with Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M and sleeper Ole Miss.
But I certainly wouldnāt rule them out in any of those games, either, especially that Nov. 8 showdown with the Tide in Death Valley. Perhaps theyāll give you better ammo to trot out than that more-lucky-than-good line.
Continue reading...
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While LSU's defense was not up to norm last year, and everyone knows about the high number of early departures for NFL draft, I wonder why LSU doesn't get the respect it deserves versus Alabama who is more lucky than good regarding schedule and inability to stop the spread. Who shut down Johnny Football the last two years. It wasn't Oklahoma or Alabama. And who was the only team to beat Auburn in the regular season?
-- Eric T, Saudi Arabia
LSUās getting plenty of respect given the fact itās replacing every key offensive skill player and lost yet another crop of NFL defenders. And I find it curious youād single out Alabama for trash-talking purposes given the Tide have won three straight against the Tigers, including by scores of 21-0 (in the 2012 BCS Championship Game) and 38-17 (last season).
I believe LSU will contend for the national title ā¦ in 2015. The freshmen Les Miles signed this year, most notably gifted running back Leonard Fournette, receiver Malachi Dupre and quarterback Brandon Harris, have a chance to accomplish something special in Baton Rouge, but itās asking a lot to depend on them so heavily as true freshmen. LSU will likely be up-and-down on offense this year, and unless it fields one of its vintage dominant defenses, the Tigers may suffer a few losses in a tough division with Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M and sleeper Ole Miss.
But I certainly wouldnāt rule them out in any of those games, either, especially that Nov. 8 showdown with the Tide in Death Valley. Perhaps theyāll give you better ammo to trot out than that more-lucky-than-good line.
Continue reading...
