LSU football schedule this week
Week 4 – @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Sept. 25 | 12:00 PM | ESPN |
Much attention rightly goes to Derrick Stingley Jr., who’s projected to be a high first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. But the cornerback who starts opposite him is Eli Ricks. As a true freshman last year, Ricks ripped off four interceptions. Under the coaching of Mike Leach, the Bulldogs will be as pass-happy as any team in the country. Talk about a bad matchup for the hosts.
- Week 4 prediction: LSU 35, Mississippi State 14
LSU football schedule predictions, roster outlook
- LSU lost the UCLA Bruins 38-27 in Week 1 of the college football season.
- The Tigers’ bye is Week 9, and is set between SEC road matchups against Ole Miss and Alabama (Oct. 23 and Nov. 6).
- Sportsnaut predicts LSU will end the regular season with an 10-2 record.
LSU football roster outlook
All our predictions are based on the Tigers starting these key players:
- QB – Max Johnson
- RB – Tyrion Davis-Price, John Emery Jr.
- WR – Kayshon Boutte, Trey Palmer, Koy Moore
- TE – Kole Taylor
LSU had a big decision to make at quarterback, but Myles Brennan’s fishing accident resulted in him breaking his non-throwing left arm, and paved the way for Max Johnson to land the starting job. To his credit, Johnson closed out the 2020 campaign with impressive wins over Florida and Ole Miss. The offense is in good hands.
Sophomore receiver Kayshon Boutte had an excellent freshman season with 45 receptions and 735 yards. He’s downright explosive, and LSU’s rushing attack should be improved from a season ago, with powerful tailback Tyrion Davis-Price leading the way.
Week 1 – LSU lost 38-27 @ UCLA Bruins
- When: Saturday, Sept. 4 @ 8:30 PM on FOX.
- Spread: LSU -3.5 (via DraftKings)
- Moneyline: LSU -180; UCLA +155
- Sportsnaut Prediction: LSU 31, UCLA 14
The UCLA Bruins’ domination of the line of scrimmage, exotic defensive coverages and their fans were all too much for LSU to handle in the season opener. Chip Kelly seems to have UCLA football moving in a promising direction after a 38-27 triumph over the Tigers, which is indubitably his signature win as Bruins head coach.
Week 2 – LSU won 34-7 vs. McNeese State Cowboys
- When: Saturday, Sept. 11 @ 8:00 PM on SEC Network
- Sportsnaut Prediction: LSU 51, McNeese State 0
Despite what happened in Los Angeles to kick off the season, LSU knew it could take solace in a tune-up game afterwards. Tigers quarterback Max Johnson was under siege versus UCLA in last week’s loss. McNeese State was a good opponent for Johnson to regain confidence against, and he threw for three touchdowns in the easy win.
Week 3 – LSU won 49-21 vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
- When: Saturday, Sept. 18 @ 7:30 PM on SEC Network
- Spread: LSU -19
- Moneyline: Central Michigan +700; LSU -1125
- Over/under: 61
- Sportsnaut prediction: LSU 45, Central Michigan 10
The Chippewas posted a .500 record in the MAC last year. That’s not exactly the stuff that inspires anyone to make a bold prediction that an upset could be on the horizon, particularly at Tiger Stadium. LSU had no problems handling Central Michigan in a dominant victory.
LSU football schedule predictions
Week 5 – vs. Auburn Tigers
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Oct. 2 | TBD | TBD |
- Spread: LSU -6.5 (via DraftKings)
- Moneyline: Auburn +185; LSU -225
Even in a small sample size, Johnson has proven he can get it done against difficult SEC opponents. Honestly, it’s easier to trust Johnson at this point over his more experienced Auburn’s counterpart Bo Nix. No one can deny Nix’s talent, yet he’s struggled to put it all together consistently. After losing 48-11 to this team in 2020, you can bet the home Tigers want to stick it to their conference adversary this time around in Death Valley.
- Week 5 prediction: LSU 38, Auburn 27
Week 6 – @ Kentucky Wildcats
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | TBD | TBD |
Considering that the Wildcats lost their biggest defensive playmaker in Jamin Davis to the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, they have little chance of stopping LSU, even in front of their home fans. Kentucky’s run-centric offense is too one-dimensional to hold up against the Tigers’ superior players.
- Week 6 prediction: LSU 42, Kentucky 21
Week 7 – vs. Florida Gators
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | TBD | TBD |
- Spread: LSU -1.5 (via DraftKings)
- Moneyline: Florida +105; LSU -125
Replacing pass-catchers like Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney isn’t going to be easy for the Gators. Pitts is an especially gifted player and was possibly the best tight end prospect in recent draft history before the Atlanta Falcons selected him No. 4 overall. Unless Florida QB Emory Jones is a Heisman Trophy-caliber, dual-threat revelation, LSU should prevail at home.
- Week 7 prediction: LSU 30, Florida 20
Week 8 – @ Ole Miss Rebels
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | TBD | TBD |
It’s hard to really know what we’ll get out of Ole Miss signal-caller Matt Corral. He threw five interceptions against LSU last season, yet still gave the Rebels a chance in the end of a 53-48 loss. The Tigers’ defense is too talented to give up that many points again, and Corral has been too mistake-prone to trust in a big spot to date.
- Week 8 prediction: LSU 38, Ole Miss 34
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 – @ Alabama Crimson Tide
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Nov. 6 | TBD | TBD |
- Spread: Alabama -22.5 (via DraftKings)
- Moneyline: LSU +1100; Alabama -2200
Stingley and Ricks will make it difficult on a Crimson Tide receiving corps that lost top-10 draft picks Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, not to mention quarterback Mac Jones. However, Alabama’s offense will be rolling at this point in the season, and in Tuscaloosa, hyped Jones successor Bryce Young will make enough plays with his legs to avert coverage sacks and hand LSU its second loss of 2021.
- Week 10 prediction: Alabama 27, LSU 23
Click here to read our game-by-game predictions for the entire 2021 Alabama football schedule
Week 11 – vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Nov. 13 | TBD | TBD |
Arkansas returns a lot of players, and should at least show some improvement from last season’s 3-7 record. Although the Razorbacks hung tough in losing to the Tigers 27-24 in the last meeting, this LSU defense should take a big step forward with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones calling the shots.
- Week 11 prediction: LSU 41, Arkansas 14
Week 12 – vs. Louisiana Monroe Warhawks
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Nov. 20 | TBD | TBD |
So, the Warhawks lost all 10 games they played in 2020. This final score projection is actually generous, and it’s more a consequence of the Tigers resting their stars before the regular-season finale.
- Week 12 prediction: LSU 56, Louisiana Monroe 0
Week 13 – vs. Texas A&M Aggies
| Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Saturday, Nov. 27 | TBD | TBD |
Losing a four-year starter at quarterback in Kellen Mond is a big deal for the Aggies. They have plenty of talented players at multiple other areas, including defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, offensive lineman Kenyon Green, tight end Jalen Wydermyer, tailback Isaiah Spiller and rusher/receiver hybrid Ainias Smith. That’ll keep this one close, but the edge goes to the hosts.
- Week 13 prediction: LSU 27, Texas A&M 24
LSU Tigers record prediction: 10-2
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