What are LSU football’s odds of winning the SEC in 2023?
LSU is one of those teams in college football that many pundits and people who follow the sport closely are viewing with optimism and positive projections.
All of the pieces line up on paper for this to potentially be a very good team that competes at the top in 2023. Many believe the nine to 10 win range is the floor for the purple and gold and the latest odds backup that line of thinking.
According to the latest numbers from Caesars Sportsbook, LSU’s odds to win the SEC are currently at +450 which ranks just behind favorite Georgia at -110 and Alabama at +240. Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports recently broke down the various odds across the conference and gave the Tigers the “Best Value” bet across the conference.
“The defending SEC West champs are well behind Alabama in the odds despite being more stable at quarterback with Daniels in the mix for the Heisman Trophy. Plus, LSU is loaded at wide receiver, and the stellar front seven is led by star sophomore Harold Perkins Jr. What's more, the Tigers have a pedigree of success after last year's run to the division title and more stability among the assistant coaches than their SEC West rival. LSU has a good shot at repeating as division champs. If that happens, all Kelly needs is a good 60 minutes in the SEC Championship Game to take the next step and cash those tickets.”
Having the third best odds to come out of the SEC is not really surprising for this LSU team. There’s actually a strong case the purple and gold should probably have the second best odds but the consistency and name of Alabama has been around for too long for many oddsmakers who set the lines.
Both Alabama and even Georgia are in the midst of settling its quarterback situations this offseason while LSU has a returning core on offense that rivals any program in the conference. Meanwhile, Caesars has Jayden Daniels as a preseason top five candidate to win the Heisman trophy at +1600 odds.
"You know, we think he is committed to being the best quarterback in the country. We've seen that in his work ethic," Kelly said after the spring game. "I think he was on the verge of moving in that direction throughout last season. His play kind of dictated that until he got injured. And I think he's picked up where he left off last year. Physically, getting bigger and stronger, leading our offense, leading our entire team.”
What he should be able to do with one of the better offensive lines in the conference, as well as exciting weapons like Malik Nabers, Mason Taylor, Brian Thomas, Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton, Logan Diggs, Josh Williams and Noah Cain should allow this group to take another leap in its aggressiveness. There are a few x-factors in this offense as we approach the dead center of summer workouts, including the transfer Anderson and freshman tight end Kamorreun Pimpton.
Anderson has vertical speed that few others have but he’s not the biggest and has battled injuries since the start of his career. Pimpton on the other hand is a physically gifted 6-foot-6 athlete with great hands. He could be one of the great late recruiting signings this program has had in quite some time.
Defensively, the Tigers front seven has a chance to be one of the most dynamic in the country when thinking about Perkins, Maason Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Sai’vion Jones, Ovie Oghoufo, Omar Speights, Quency Wiggins and true freshman DaShawn Womack. There’s enough versatility and overall dynamic athletes who should be able to limit the production of opposing run games and get to the backfield with relative consistency.
The biggest x-factor in all of the SEC could be what kind of dominance Perkins can show now that he’s learning the inside linebacker position as well as establishing himself as an elite edge rusher as a true freshman. Teams won’t be able to prepare for him coming from one side of the field but rather several angles and gaps he can create with his elite athleticism.
One question mark entering the fall will be how this secondary gels, particularly at cornerback. If Denver Harris, Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut and the rest of the completely revamped room can improve over the next few months, LSU’s in a much better spot. It was a glaring weakness for some of the spring but it’s also likely because of the various options the Tigers were trying back there.
True freshman Javien Toviano could be one of the most important pieces on this team if LSU finds the right role for him and he’s able to take over a starting spot early in his career.
The Tigers have all the momentum and confidence to be one of the best in the SEC on paper in 2023. But how it all translates to the field is another story. That first game against Florida State will tell us a lot about how serious this team is about being contenders.
