ESPN’s Paul Finebaum was more concerned about LSU’s title chances than Clemson when posed the question Sunday on SportsCenter. Clemson, with a win, is almost a lock, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich. For LSU, they’ll need to pick up the pace later on in the season. But Finebaum noted the Tigers’ lack of success on opening […]
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum was more concerned about LSU’s title chances than Clemson when posed the question Sunday on SportsCenter. Clemson, with a win, is almost a lock, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
For LSU, they’ll need to pick up the pace later on in the season. But Finebaum noted the Tigers’ lack of success on opening weekend over the last five seasons.
Basically, since Joe Burrow, LSU can’t get off to a good start. But they can certainly change things next week.
“(It’s) LSU, because if Clemson wins this game, it’s not the end of the season for LSU, by no means,” Finebaum said on SportsCenter. “They still have an amazing schedule, but the fan base is going to be fit to be tied, especially with the schedule they have in a couple weeks.
“They will then see Florida in about two weeks after that, but LSU has one of the top quarterbacks in the country. They went out and brought in a tremendous defense. They have elite athletes across the field, but this fan base just can’t seem to win this opening game. They haven’t won an opener since Joe Burrow was the quarterback in 2019.”
Finebaum echoed his comments from earlier this week. He noted LSU coach Brian Kelly has the most on the line in Week 1.
“Brian Kelly,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “Even though we all know what he has after that, he’s the coach I think in this weekend is probably the most vulnerable because of everything that has already been said. Also, his schedule.
“Nobody else has remaining games like Brian Kelly does, especially coming back in two or three weeks later against Florida. So, if you get blown out there and you lose another game, you’re down to your last swing of the bat, perhaps with all kinds of schools coming up like Texas A&M and, especially, Alabama in Tuscaloosa.”
In his three seasons with the program, Kelly has led LSU to a 29-11 record. That includes one trip to the SEC Championship Game, but they’ve yet to get to the College Football Playoff.
Clemson will play host to LSU on August 30th. After that, LSU will return home and just two weeks later play host to Florida to kickoff SEC play.
Category: General Sports
