After two down years in 2020 and 2021 that netted just 11 total wins, the LSU Tigers bounced back in a big way in 2022 with a 10-4 record and a monster 63-7 win in the Citrus Bowl vs Purdue.
A big part of that quick turnaround was due to the arrival of head coach Brian Kelly, who’d spent the past decade leading Notre Dame. The continued success of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, who form one of the most potent QB-WR combos in college football, will also push this team into a possible College Football Playoff run.
LSU’s speedy defense is headlined by LB Harold Perkins. Not only can he rush the passer, but he can roam sideline to sideline as a more traditional ‘backer as well.
The defensive line will give Perkins a ton of freedom to do his thing thanks to two stud defensive tackles; Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith. Smith missed nearly the entire 2022 season after tearing his ACL.
LSU still has something to prove and are just outside the first-tier teams in college football. They should play with a chip on their shoulders in tough contests vs Florida State, at Mississippi State, at Ole Miss, at Alabama, and vs Texas A&M.
LSU Betting Odds
LSU Futures Lines
LSU Preseason Lines
LSU odds used in this report are current as of Tuesday, July 18, at 2 p.m. ET, at DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook.
LSU: Win National Championship (+1200)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.1 Unit
The country will get a good look at LSU right off the bat in a primetime neutral site game against Florida State. From there, the Tigers regular season schedule is tough thanks to having to hit the road to face Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
A wildcard to watch is the integration of some of LSU’s big transfer portal acquisitions like cornerbacks Denver Harris, Duce Chestnut, Zy Alexander, and JK Johnson. The team needs big improvements to their secondary and that’s why the Tigers were so aggressive in the portal to address that position group.
A better than expected defense could propel LSU to a national championship.
LSU: Win SEC Title (+450)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
A successful first season from Kelly? Check. Overtaking Alabama? Check. Beating Georgia? Not quite there yet.
The Bulldogs look to be on a fast track to run the table in the regular season thanks to an easy schedule. The Tigers need to get past Alabama again and then beat a team that hasn’t lost a game since December 2021.
Daniels is a fifth-year senior and that kind of experience can go a long way to beat out both Bama and UGA, two teams that probably feel they deserve more than what they’ve earned.
Get more odds and bets to consider with our SEC futures coverage.
Jayden Daniels: Heisman Trophy Winner (+1200)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.1 Unit
Speaking of Daniels, the biggest reason he has a shot to win the Heisman is Nabers.
The junior wideout will be 20 years old and playing with an early exit to the NFL Draft in mind. Last year, he broke out in a big way with 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns.
Daniels is no slouch either. Not only did he pass for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions, he also led the Tigers in rushing with 885 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Monitor TGD’s Heisman Trophy odds to monitor the favorites and best sleepers to also consider to take home the hardware.
Malik Nabers: UNDER 7.5 Receiving Touchdowns (-108)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
For all of Nabers’s talents, LSU’s offense isn’t expected to be dominant. In his previous two seasons, he has seven receiving touchdowns.
With that in mind, the Tigers have a good group of receivers behind Nabers, Kyren Lacy and Brian Thomas Jr., who should do well to spread out the production. This isn’t so much a fade for Nabers, but more the likelihood that the passing offense will be diverse.
At near even odds, taking the under is one of the better values among LSU’s player prop bets.
LSU Best Prop Bets
LSU Make College Football Playoff (+430)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Unit
Given what happened last year to TCU, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see both the SEC and Big 10 secure two bids each into the CFP. The question is whether LSU can snag the second invite away from either Georgia or Alabama.
At +430 odds, FanDuel Sportsbook is ranking LSU ninth among their listed odds at time of publishing. That’s a great value bet considering LSU will likely be ranked closer to fifth in all the preseason polls.
LSU Undefeated Regular Season (+1000)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.1 Unit
If you would like to add a little spice to your bet slip, roll the dice on the Tigers winning their entire regular season schedule.
LSU is ranked seventh on FanDuel, excluding Georgia since they have a notably easy schedule and are being excluded from this season special. It’s a longshot, but it’s backed by one of the more complete teams with a ton of new talent available from the portal.
The wildcard to the Tigers offense is their backfield. Noah Cain and Josh Williams return, Josh Emery is expected to be cleared academically, plus Logan Diggs was added via the transfer portal from Notre Dame.
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