LSU Tigers Heavy Favorite to Win SEC Title
There’s lots to cheer about at LSU these days. (AI Wire photo)
No JaMarcus Russell? No LaRon Landry? No Dwayne Bowe or Craig Davis? No doubt.
Despite an exodus of stars to the NFL, the LSU Tigers will enter the 2007 college football season as overwhelming favorites to win the SEC. They hold NCAA football odds of 1/1 to win the conference and 8/1 to win the national championship. Only Michigan at 7/1 is a stronger favorite among NCAA bettors.
Defending champion Florida is an 11/4 choice to win the SEC and 9/1 to win the national title again. The Tigers received 54 of 80 first-place votes from reporters who cover the SEC. The Gators got only seven.
Along with losing four key starters to the NFL draft, the Tigers also saw offensive playcaller Jimbo Fisher, who left for Florida State, depart. And tailback Alley Broussard quit on Tuesday because his “heart was no longer in it” and prized quarterback prospect Ryan Perrilloux’s status on the team remains uncertain after an arrest in May. For some programs, all that might add up to a rebuilding year. The Tigers’ biggest issue right now might be dealing with huge expectations after back-to-back 11-win seasons and a Sugar Bowl rout of Notre Dame. Their over/under for wins this year is 10.5.
“It’s not something you can be awarded,” coach Les Miles said of the preseason projections on Friday. “There’s no prediction that’s ultimate. That just sells papers. The only thing you can do is earn what you get.”
The Tigers figure to be led by an outstanding defense anchored by All-America defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. “We’re just as talented as we were last year,” Dorsey said.
On offense, senior quarterback Matt Flynn takes over for Russell. Flynn has only one career start, leading LSU to a win in the 2005 Peach Bowl.
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