LSU Football writer is extremely optimistic about the Tigers in 2021

How is LSU football going to fare in 2021?

That’s the big question as we’re just six days away from the Tigers’ season-opener against UCLA in Los Angeles.

While LSU is busy in Houston preparing for their matchup against the Bruins (the team relocated for the week due to Hurricane Ida), there are some final predictions about the Tigers’ season being made.

Rivals’ team of LSU writers made their season predictions over the weekend and all three of them have the Tigers finishing 10-2 this season, which would be quite an improvement over the program’s 5-5 record in 2020.

One writer, in particular, is feeling especially optimistic about LSU this season.

Could LSU football be in store for a special season?

Rivals LSU writer Julie Boudwin predicted that the Tigers will go 10-2 this season, but she also thinks their record could end up being better if everything goes just right.

Here’s what Boudwin had to say:

"I went with a 10-2 record for 2021, but honestly I think there’s a chance it could be better at the end of the year if two things happen.First, LSU has to stay healthy at the key position groups of DL, CB, OL and QB , specially since we’ve seen numerous injuries throughout fall camp.Second, the offensive line has to play better than they did in 2020. If the OL stays healthy and plays average or better, then the sky is the limit for this squad with the remaining talent on the team paired with the offense of Jake Peetz."

Boudwin views Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M as the Tigers’ three toughest games, which means she has LSU beating Florida.

I think she’s right that if everything goes just right, the Tigers could finish better than 10-2. That’s not what I think will happen, but I could certainly see it happening.

LSU should beat Ole Miss, though who knows what kind of tricks Lane Kiffin has up his sleeve.

The Alabama and Texas A&M games are complete toss-ups. Alabama will be more beatable this year than usual, but they’re still a very strong team.

Texas A&M is a sleeper national championship pick, so that’s a game I expect to go down to the wire.

LSU absolutely has the talent on the roster to beat both teams.

Anything over nine wins should be considered a huge success for the Tigers this season — especially with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

And anything less than eight wins should be considered a major disappointment.