After falling to Ole Miss last weekend, the LSU Tigers get a much-needed bye week this week. Hopefully, the Tigers use the bye week to re-work things on the offensive side of the ball, as the effort against Ole Miss was yet again another frustrating outing for the offense. The bye week can also help Garrett Nussmeier get healthy as he continues to work through a torso injury.
LSU is back in action next weekend on Oct. 11 in a home tilt against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Shane Beamer's team owns a 3-2 overall record and is 1-2 in SEC with losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri and a win over Kentucky. The Gamecocks are also on a bye this week, so both teams will be well-rested for next weekend's meeting at Tiger Stadium. Despite LSU not taking the field this weekend, there are still a couple games that Tiger fans need to keep their eyes on.
Vanderbilt at Alabama
College GameDay will be on site in Tuscaloosa for a top-25 showdown between Vanderbilt and Alabama. The Commodores enter this matchup with a 5-0 record and a No. 16 ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll. Alabama has rebounded nicely after their season opening loss at Florida State. The Crimson Tide picked up a massive win at Georgia last week, and finds themselves at No. 10 in the AP Poll. Alabama is favored by 11 points, and ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor gives Alabama a 74.3% chance of winning. The Tide are looking for revenge, as they were upset by Vandy last year as the No. 1 team in the country. It was Vanderbilt's first-ever win against a top-ranked team in program history.
This matchup features a pair of future LSU opponents in 2025. LSU battles Vanderbilt in a couple weeks on Oct. 18 in Nashville. LSU then heads to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide on Nov. 8. Tiger fans will learn a lot of both the Commodores and Crimson Tide in this matchup. The Vandy offense has been putting up monster numbers, but Alabama presents their toughest test of the season. Alabama can't afford a second loss on the season to fall to 3-2, so sense of urgency will be high from Kalen DeBoer's squad.
Mississippi State at Texas A&M
LSU doesn't play Mississippi State this season, but they face the Texas A&M Aggies on Oct. 25. It will be a tough scheduling situation for LSU, who battles Texas A&M in-between road trips to Vanderbilt and Alabama. The Aggies are 4-0 with an impressive road win at Notre Dame earlier this season. The offense has been cooking, and while the defense started slow, it got back on track by holding Auburn to 10 points this past weekend. However, that could say more about Auburn's offense than Texas A&M's defense, as Jackson Arnold and company continue to struggle no matter who they are playing.
The Aggies allowed 28.67 points per game over their first three games of the season. LSU's offense continues to be a cause of frustration, but the A&M defense could present some opportunities. It will be interesting to see the Mississippi State offense go up against A&M's defense. The Bulldogs have been able to connect on big plays often so far this season, and even put up 34 points in their lone loss of the season to Tennessee.