Share 
Don’t get me wrong, after months of anticipation, I will take all the football I can get. While Week Zero’s small slate was enjoyable, football is officially back with Week 1 featuring plenty of contenders looking to build their case to make the playoffs. Below is a breakdown of three fringe playoff teams who need to get off to a hot start, including LSU who headlines week one’s slate with a battle against Clemson.
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET
Use Bonus Code: BETLINEUPS
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET
Use Bonus Code: BETLINEUPS
CFB Playoff Picture Entering Week 1
- LSU Tigers
- Louisville Cardinals
- SMU Mustangs
LSU (-10.5) vs. Clemson
Since the arrival of Lane Kiffin, LSU has made waves across social media for various reasons, most notably for their activity in the transfer portal. From former NFL players to poaching college talent all over the nation, the Tigers have been able to successfully rebuild both sides of the ball, potentially turning them back into a viable contender capable of making a deep run in the playoffs.
In order to make the playoffs, LSU can ill-afford to lose to Clemson in week one, needing to stack as many wins as they can get before entering conference play. Especially with their conference schedule ramping up early in the year, kicking off SEC play with a highly anticipated matchup against Ole Miss before hosting Texas A&M. The Tigers then end their year with a tough three game stretch, battling it out against Alabama and Texas before hitting the road to face off against Tennessee.
Fortunately for the Tigers, their incoming transfers are proven, indicating positive regression is looming large over an offense who ranked well below league average in Success Rate and in Havoc Allowed. A much needed injection of talent to help compliment a defense who fared far better in the same previously mentioned metrics, turning them back into a well rounded unit.
Clemson meanwhile is fresh off of another underwhelming offseason, signaling their struggles on offense are poised to persist after finishing last year ranked outside the top-50 in Success Rate and in Explosiveness. With Clemson incapable of keeping pace on the scoreboard, expect LSU to secure the pivotal win and put themselves in a more favorable position to make the playoffs.
Louisville (+6.5) vs. Ole Miss
Speaking of Ole Miss, they kick off their year under a new regime after Kiffin took the LSU job, raising concerns over their ability to replicate last year’s success. Under Kiffin, the Rebels were a well oiled machine on offense, ranking near the top of the board in Success Rate, EPA per play, and in Havoc Allowed.
While retaining Trinidad Chambliss helps, negative regression will continue to loom large until the Heisman contender can prove he can thrive without the support of Kiffin’s quarterback friendly system. Any regression on offense spells doom for the Rebels season long outlook, desperately needing to mask a defense who gives up big plays at a high rate, residing in the bottom forty in Explosiveness.
To make matters worse for Ole Miss, Louisville will do them no favors in their efforts of integrating their new system on offense, facing off against a stalwart defense who creates disruptions at all three levels of the field per their above league average mark in Havoc. Expect Louisville to keep it closer than the spread implies, potentially bursting the Rebels playoff hopes before conference play even begins.
SMU (-2.5) @ Florida State
After finishing last year 5-7, Florida State’s Mike Norvell is firmly on the hot seat, desperately needing to get the Seminoles back on track to hold on to his job. Their performance against New Mexico State in week 0 was certainly alarming, struggling to pull away on the scoreboard while fielding a far more talented roster.
Florida State must quickly find their identity before they face off against SMU, hosting a well rounded Mustangs team who is capable of exploiting the Seminoles struggles on both sides of the ball. Especially with SMU fielding a defense who excels at keeping opposing offenses out of scoring position, a unit who ranked 12th overall in Def Finishing Drives and 24th in Hard Stops.
Barring a sudden turnaround, it’s tough to envision this version of the Seminoles posing as a threat to SMU, plummeting their chances of making the playoffs with a loss. SMU on the other hand will put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat with a win, getting the benefit of an easy schedule to help collect enough wins to secure one of the wildcard spots in the playoffs.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
