No. 9 LSU Tigers

2008 Record: 8-5.
2008 Against the Spread: 3-9.
2009 Odds to win BCS Championship: 25/1.
Key games: at Georgia Oct. 3; vs. Florida Oct. 10; at Alabama Nov. 7

Overview: You get the impression LSU coach Les Miles is the type of guy who, if he had a hot night at the craps table, would simply let his winnings ride with each roll of the dice. He coaches football with this mentality, and the approach has earned the Tigers a national title and Miles legendary status in his short time in Baton Rouge.
However, all gamblers hit the occasional cold streak, and Miles and the Tigers seemed to do just that last year. A 4-0 start had expectations soaring high, as many football predictions had them back in the national title game, but then reality set in for the young Tigers.

In particular, Miles' decision to stick with a freshman quarterback who has a penchant for throwing the ball to the other team cost LSU dearly. Jarrett Lee showed flashes of tremendous talent at times but, like his coach, he was a little too risk-prone. Lee threw 16 interceptions, many of which were returned for scores and knocked LSU out of games it had a chance to win.

Many of the throws Lee attempted had no chance against SEC defenses, which welcomed the gifted throws and sent LSU fans home disappointed. The Tigers stumbled to a 7-5 mark, which included a 51-21 loss to Florida.  

The stubborn Miles stuck with Lee most of the way before turning to Jordan Jefferson, who was less flashy than Lee but also less mistake-prone. Miles said he is leaning toward starting Jefferson this season.

One bright spot for LSU last season was that it ended the campaign on an up note after demolishing upstart Georgia Tech, 38-3, in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, showing signs of the immense potential the LSU roster holds.

More good news for Tigers fans comes with the fact that they return almost all of their core players on both sides of the ball. Charles Scott, a rugged 1,000-yard rusher last year, returns to anchor the backfield while gifted receiver Brandon LaFell will provide a reliable target for the quarterbacks.  Defensive coordinator John Chavis will have plenty of talent to work with, even if the LSU defense does not boast the marquee superstars that it has in year's past.

The bad news for LSU followers is that the team's resurgence collides with a brutal SEC schedule that includes road games against Georgia and Alabama, and visit from defending national champion Florida.
LSU should be vastly improved, but not enough to where it can escape this murderer's row of opponents without a couple of blemishes.

2009-10 LSU Tigers Football Predictions: 10-3, non-BCS bowl game appearance.