Second-half outlook: LSU
Written by ESPN.com's Chris Low   
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 13:30
Outside of Alabama and Florida, nobody in the SEC has a better opportunity the second half of the season than LSU. If the Tigers can win out, they will play in the SEC championship game. That’s easier said than done. They still have to go to Alabama and to Ole Miss, while Auburn and Arkansas will come to Baton Rouge. The Tigers have shown the defensive prowess to win these next six games. First-year defensive coordinator John Chavis has LSU playing at a high level on that side of the ball, and look for the Tigers to do even more defensively from here on out. The reason it’s hard to pick the Tigers in the West at this point is because they’ve been so dysfunctional offensively. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson hasn’t found any rhythm throwing the ball, and the Tigers might also want to remember they have Charles Scott in the backfield. LSU also needs to find a way to get freshman Russell Shepard more involved.

Best-case scenario: The Tigers come out of the open date with a better idea of what they want to do offensively, get some production in the downfield passing game and play their way into the SEC championship game.

Worst-case scenario: The offense we saw during the first half of the season is the offense we’re going to see for the entire season, and the Tigers stumble to three more losses and an 8-4 finish in the regular season.

Prediction: LSU isn’t able to take down Alabama, but is good enough on defense to scratch out a 9-3 record and earn a berth in the Capital One Bowl.