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LSU's close games in 2022 create concern for upcoming season

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater06/27/23samdg_33
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Vest | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LSU is going to be a program that many will have their eyes on in 2023. With that said, On3’s JD PicKell believes that our current perception of the Tigers could have looked a whole lot different considering some of their results last fall.

PicKell explained a hesitation that he has with LSU in an episode of ‘The Hard Count’ on Monday. He said that the team’s record in close games was to their benefit as they had more wins than losses. However, if they don’t make the necessary corrections to avoid those scenarios, he knows that script could just as easily flip on the Tigers in this upcoming season.

“In four one score games, LSU went 3-1,” PicKell said. “I hear you. That’s a positive stat. (But) that’s also not a reliable stat to go year to year with.”

“I’m a little bit concerned about where this team is at. Because those games that they won could have just as easily gone the other direction,” said PicKell. “LSU won 10 games last year. If they don’t win those three games were one score? (It’s) a seven win football team. And we have a very different conversation right now about Brian Kelly and LSU.”

LSU lost their opening game in close fashion to Florida State a season ago. That took a final big-time play from the Seminoles to get the job down in New Orleans. From there, the Tigers bounced back in clutch games with a four-point win at Auburn, the well known one-point overtime victory over Alabama, and, a week later, a close call at Arkansas by a final score of 13-10.

As PicKell points out, though, all three could have swung the other way. LSU had to score 21 unanswered to comeback from down 17 on The Plains. Then, against Alabama, the Tiger’s highlight victory of the season, things broke their way in overtime, especially with Kelly’s decision to go for two that paid off in the form of Mason Taylor. Finally, in a potential letdown game, LSU had to slug it out until the very end with the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

In the end, it really is a game of inches. Those games went the way of the Tigers in ’22 and benefitted their resume at the end of the season. Even so, PicKell hopes that they don’t rely on that again in ’23 considering the dice roll that they could be taking with their season.