FanPost

LSU's schedule: staring at history


This is obviously putting the cart before the horse and counting chickens before they hatch, and all that.  So as not to anger the Evil, Capricious Football Gods (ECFGs, for short), I'm not lauding what's about to happen.  Just pointing out what could happen if a few things break right. 

This jumped out at me while I was looking at the polls a few days ago.  1995 Nebraska is regarded by many as having had the greatest season ever (different than Greatest Team Ever, but I've seen arguments for that too), having defeated 4 teams that finished top 10.  I haven't researched it, but I can't think of any other champs that can boast that, and it's impressive at any rate.  But check this out.....IF LSU wins out, these other scenarios could also play out and set LSU up with possibly even a better season.  And in fact, I see a lot of these things as likely.  I'll even go so far as to say that the least likely thing, imo, is for LSU to stay perfect against this schedule, given that better teams usually drop a game somewhere when going through an unprecedented meat-grinder (or even a regular meat-grinder).  But just for kicks, let's say LSU wins 4 more games and goes 14-0. 

With Boise and Stanford out of their way, Arkansas has jumped up.  Even with a loss to LSU, I think it's likely the Razorbacks stay in the bottom end of the top 10.  That's debatable, but that's my feeling on it.  With Oregon securing a nice resume win over Stanford, they stay in the top 10 if they win out, which seems likely.  Alabama isn't leaving the top 10 so long as they win out, which also seems likely.  Then there would be the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State winner that LSU would likely face in the championship game.  This is a little more dicey.  Obviously if oSu wins out, they'll stay top 10, even with a loss to LSU in the bowl.  If OU wins out and plays LSU, I think they'll stay top 10, but I'm not as certain since they'd have two losses, fighting against several one loss teams in these scenarios, and a terrible blight on their resume in losing at home to Texas Tech.  But I do think it's likely that the winner of Bedlam will play in the national championship game if LSU wins out, because I believe the voters will act to avoid an Oregon or Alabama rematch with LSU.  Still, the way the Pokes have been rolling lately, it's not hard to imagine them finally getting over their "OU problem" and making OU's case a moot point.  Bowl games get crazy, and we all know bowl results can get crazy due to layoffs, how different coaches treat bowls, etc.  But it's not hard to envision Arkansas, Alabama, and Oregon winning their bowls to stay top 10.  That would give LSU 4 top ten opponents in those 3, plus Oklahoma (State).

Then consider this:  UGA will probably stay top 25, even with a loss to LSU in the SECCG, so long as they take care of Kentucky as they should, and win against Ga. Tech and then their bowl.  No cakewalk, but all doable.  Then, going out further on these limbs, imagine WVU winning out from here, which I think would give them the Big East title and they'd probably ease back into the top 25 (hey, might as well dream big, right?).  That would give LSU wins over:  4 top ten teams, 6 top 25 teams, and 2 conference champs.  And just for grins 'n' giggles, even WKU is still in contention to be SunBelt champs.  If things really went right, that would be a 3rd conference champ. 

So I'm not saying that any of this will happen.  Just saying that it could, and that this stuff is not that far-fetched, if LSU wins out.  Which, again, would be the big thing.  Frankly, it's amazing this team has dominated like it has (sans Bama), with this kind of schedule.  End-of-year rankings are much more indicative than game-time rankings, but as of game days, 6 of LSU's 10 opponents so far have been ranked.  That's just insane.  And to look at where the final rankings could end up show you just what kind of slate LSU has been playing.  It's amazing Nebraska did what it did, which is why it's considered the greatest season ever.  If LSU won out against this, I don't think there's any doubt that LSU has to be at least put in the discussion for greatest season ever.  And LSU will have done it without a Tommy Frazier.  Or.....hell.....hardly even any pre-season all-SEC team members.  Just a damn strong football team.

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