SEC 2010-LSU Tigers

2009 Record: 9-4 (5-3)
Head Coach: Les Miles (6th season, 51-15...79-36 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Gary Crowten (4th season)
Defensive Coordinator: John Chavis (2nd season)
2009 Bowl Game: Capital One Bowl, lost to Penn State 19-17

Offense: Jordan Jefferson has some potential to be a star QB, but right now he looks like a safe QB. He makes the plays, but nothing about him is big time, and nothing about him creates a buzz. He needs to take his game to the next level in 2010. Stevan Ridley is the starting RB, but he does not have a ton of experience, and his career rushing average is nothing to get crazy over. Look for freshman Michael Ford to get a good long look in camp. Terrence Toliver is the lone returnee at WR, and again, there is nothing dynamic going on. The entire interior line must be replaced.

Defense: There are issues everywhere. DT Lazarius Levingston returns at DT, but the other three starters will be new. There is potential with the new group of starters, but again, one has to prove it on the field. Kelvin Sheppard returns at LB after posting 110 tackles in 2009, but there is severe inexperience and little statistical relevence with the replacements at the other two spots. CB Patrick Peterson may be the most dynamic player on the defense, having returned 2 picks and a blocked FG for TDs last season. Brandon Taylor returns at SS, and Jai Eugene will be playing FS. Eugene has started at various spots, but never at FS.

Special Teams: Josh Jasper was solid at PK, having made 17 of 20 FGs in 2009. Derek Helton will also return as the punter, so the special teams area is solid.

2010 Schedule

Wins: 9/11 Vanderbilt, 9/18 Mississippi State, 10/2 Tennessee, 10/16 McNeese State, 11/13 Louisiana-Monroe

Toss Up Games: 9/4 North Carolina, 9/25 West Virginia, 10/23 @ Auburn, 11/20 Ole Miss 11/27 @ Arkansas

Losses: 10/9 @ Florida, 11/6 Alabama

The non-conference schedule is not as tough as it may look, as UNC and WVU are both overrated coming into the season by the national media. Playing McNeese State is just a facre, and ULM will never beat an SEC team in the upper echelon, ever. LSU does not have the talent to knock off Florida or Alabama.

Outlook: LSU fans had better have enjoyed those seasons a few years ago when they were competeing for titles, as Florida and Alabama have passed them by in a big way. LSU does not have a ton of dynamic talent anywhere on offense, as evidenced by their 112th ranked finish in total offense in 2009. LSU will still get a decent bowl, but they will not compete for the SEC crown or the BCS in any way.