2008 LSU Tigers Football Preview

2008 LSU Tigers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official LSU Tigers football preview as well as the 2008 LSU Tigers Football Schedule. We also offer a free odds comparison service of lines and totals on the NCAA football odds page.

Coach: Les Miles (4th year at LSU)
Team Name: Tigers
2007 Overall Record: 12-2
Returning Starters: 12

In 2007, the LSU Tigers (12-2 overall, 6-2 SEC) finished first in the West, securing a trip to the BCS Championship game. There they met Ohio State, beating them 38-24 and finishing first in the nation. Is a repeat in the cards?

A major problem for this team concerns the quarterback position, which was vacated when QB Ryan Perrilloux was dismissed in early May for violating team regulations repeatedly. Two guys are competing for the all-important position—junior Andrew Hatch and freshman Jarrett Lee. Neither has played enough snaps in a college game to be called a proven entity. At running back, LSU shows depth with Keiland Williams (70 CAR, 479 YDS, 6 TDs) returning as the team’s leading rusher. Charles Scott with 439 yards and seven touchdowns and Richard Murphy with 304 yards and two touchdowns will also contribute. At receiver, junior Brandon LaFell (50 REC, 656 YDS, 4 TDs) and senior Demetrius Boyd (35 REC, 621 YDS, 7 TDs) are a potent one-two punch.

The defense was rated 19th nationally, allowing an average of 19.9 PPG. The team was very tough against the rush, giving up just 106.1 YPG, ranking them 12th. Passing defense was ninth, while the team was third overall in yards allowed (288.8 YPG). The defense returns seniors Kirston Pittman and Tyson Jackson, both at defensive end. Pittman notched 7.5 sacks. Junior Ricky Jean-Francois, the D-MVP in the BCS Bowl, is back at tackle. He’s countered by senior DT Marlon Favorite. Darry Beckwith, who garnered 65 tackles (37 solo) in 2007, is the centerpiece of the linebacking corps. The defense had 15 hurries in 2007. The secondary is a bit thin with senior Curtis Taylor (3 INTs) being the only returning starter.

Nine wins are certain with swing games being at Auburn on September 20 and at Florida on October 11. The final huge test happens when Georgia visits on October 25.

It was the 11th nationally ranked rushing game that provided the majority of the LSU offense last season. The passing game, which was rated 58th, may be even weaker this season. But if one of the QBs can pony up, the wide receivers are certainly good enough to open up the field and the game. The defense should still be very good. BCS Champs again? That’s doubtful.

LSU Tigers Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Appalachian St	Home
Sep 6	Troy	Home
Sep 13	North Texas	Home
Sep 20	Auburn	Away
Sep 27	Mississippi St	Home
Oct 11	Florida	Away
Oct 18	South Carolina	Away
Oct 25	Georgia	Home
Nov 1	Tulane	Home
Nov 8	Alabama	Home
Nov 22	Mississippi	Home
Nov 28	Arkansas	Away

 

For more info on the 2008 LSU Tigers football program, view the Tigers official website or scroll down below to read up on the rest of the SEC competition.