We know the No.2 (AP) ranked LSU Tigers will be good in 2007. Why…Because they usually are. Not only that but all the experts and pundits seem to think so. However, will they live up to what the experts think and show it on the field beginning Thursday in the ESPN televised game, on the road, at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
Oddsmakers at online sports wagering giant Sportsbook.com opened the betting line favoring the Tigers at -17 points, now having moved it to -18. It seems “Mr. Public Gambler” can’t get enough of this bet with trends heavily going the Tigers way. With me…I’m not so sure. I feel certain Sylvester Croom, entering his fourth year as the Bulldogs coach, will have something up his sleeve that could possibly give the heavily favored Tigers some trouble. But recent history is not on my side of reasoning.
Going back to Croom’s first year (2004) at the Starkville, Miss., school, the Tigers have not been kind to his Bulldogs both on the road and at home. Croom’s first encounter with the Tigers was a 51-0 drubbing on the LSU home field at Baton Rouge. The Tigers came to Scott Field in 2005 and handed the Bulldogs a 30 pt loss 37-7. Last year at LSU, the Tigers again whipped MSU handily 48-17.
Croom now has had four years to upgrade the MSU talent pool to the level of other schools in the SEC. On offense, the Bulldogs line returns intact and has recruited a group of hungry running backs led by super sophomore power back Anthony Dixon. Quarterback will be a huge question mark going into Thursday’s game. Oft injured junior Mike Henig came into fall camp atop the depth chart and barring injury will remain there. Henig was being challenged by juco transfer Josh Riddell who was guaranteed the No. 2 spot but was indefinitely suspended from the team by Croom following his arrest for suspicion of DUI on Sunday (Aug. 19). True freshman Wesley Carroll has now stepped into the backup role. Carroll led St. Thomas Aquinas High of Parkland, Fla., to the Class 5A state title game in each of the three seasons he played quarterback. The team was 38-5 in those three seasons.
On defense Croom is comfortable with his linebackers claiming he has five guys he can rotate in and out without losing a step including last years tackles leader (66) Jamar Chaney in the middle. The MSU defense with its experience and elevated talent level could give the Tiger’s offense some trouble. With the No. 2 preseason tag, and the favored team to win the SEC, LSU has nowhere to go but down in the championship picture if they can’t replace three first-round draft picks on offense including quarterback and No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Matt Flynn appears to be a capable replacement but with little or no starters experience who knows what will happen.
The -18 point line is probably where it should be but I expect the Bulldogs to show some grit and give LSU a game on national television.
