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Jordan Rodgers predicts Frank Wilson could unlock 'the best we see of LSU'

Danby: Daniel Hager8 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | © Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Historic rivals No. 4 Alabama and LSU will clash Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. It will mark the first game for LSU since it parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly following the Tigers’ blowout loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 25, which dropped them to 5-3 on the season.

These programs are going in much different directions this season, as the Tide have won seven consecutive games and look to be en route to their first College Football Playoff appearance under Kalen DeBoer. LSU, meanwhile, is riding out the season en route to hiring a new head coach.

For now, associate head coach/running backs coach Frank Wilson has assumed interim head coaching duties for the Tigers. With Wilson in charge, ESPN‘s Jordan Rodgers predicted that LSU will play its best game of the season against Alabama.

“I think this might be the best we see of LSU,” Rodgers said on Friday morning’s edition of Get Up. “I talked to Kirby Smart last week doing the Georgia game, and he said you have to be really wary of the interim (coach) juice that teams can have after you fire a coach. There’s a new voice, new leadership, and new energy. Something to prove. There’s still a lot of talent in that locker room, on both sides of the football.”

Rodgers says LSU will have ‘renewed energy’ due to Kelly departure

“I think they put it together this week,” Rodgers continued. “I don’t think it’ll be enough to beat Alabama, but I think this is the best version of Garrett Nussmeier and these weapons on offense we’ve seen because of the renewed energy. Might be a lot of weight off their shoulders now that Brian Kelly is out of there.”

A strong performance from Nussmeier on Saturday would be very much welcomed by LSU fans, as the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite has had a disappointing senior season in Baton Rouge. After passing for at least 300 yards in eight games last season, he has yet to hit that mark in a game this year.

Improvement from the defense would be welcome as well, as LSU has been thrashed over the past two games by No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 3 Texas A&M. After successfully not allowing more than 20 points to an opponent over its first six games, LSU has allowed 31 and 49 over its last two. The Tigers certainly have a tall task ahead of them this weekend, as Alabama is averaging 29.4 points against SEC competition.