LSU Tigers 2026 College Football Preview, Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions

After failing to make the College Football Playoff in his tenure with LSU, the Tigers have moved on from Brian Kelly and brought in Lane Kiffin to help turn around their program. Kiffin wasted no time in his efforts of re-tooling their roster, poaching Sam Leavitt from Arizona State to help run their offense. Still, with glaring holes on both sides of the ball, temper your expectations of LSU making a run to the National Championship in Kiffin’s first year.

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LSU Tigers 2026 College Football National Championship Odds

National Title Odds:

After years of mediocrity, LSU finally parted ways with Brian Kelly and decided to make a splash in the offseason, luring Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss in stunning fashion. While Kiffin has yet to win the National Championship as a head coach, he is arguably the best at recruiting and utilizing the transfer portal to help turn around programs which is exactly what LSU needs.

Kicking off the new era, Kiffin brings in Sam Leavitt to help turnaround an offense who ranked outside the top-100 in Off Success Rate, PPA, and in Havoc Allowed. When healthy, Leavitt is a dangerous dual threat quarterback capable of burning any opposing front seven through the air and on the ground, averaging 6.8 Yards per Throw and 4.2 Yards per Carry.

While the Tigers certainly have question marks looming over their offense, their defense brings back a bulk of their players who helped elevate them to top-40 marks in Def Success Rate. With continuity on that side of the ball, the Tigers will be able to mask any sort of slow start, helping them avoid any potential early slip ups.

Digging into their schedule, LSU kicks off their year with a highly anticipated matchup against Clemson who are poised to regress after an underwhelming offseason. Shortly after their season opener, LSU faces off against Ole Miss in week three with plenty of motivation oozing from both sidelines. After a date with the Rebels, the Tigers host Texas A&M who will match them in regard to the talent on the field.

Factor in a brutal three game stretch to end their year involving the likes of Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee, and the Tigers may once again be on the outside looking in. Especially with their offense potentially getting off to a slow start while integrating into the new system, giving the Tigers zero room for error when their quality of opponent ramps up later in the year. At their current odds, pass on LSU to win the National Championship.

Bet: No

LSU Tigers 2026 SEC Championship Odds

SEC Title Odds:

Expectations are high in Kiffin’s first year as the head coach of LSU with oddsmakers listing them near the top of the oddsboard to win the SEC Conference Championship. Even with Kiffin bringing in one of the more productive groups of transfers, turning the Tigers around in short order is a tall task when having to weave through a tough schedule.

Speaking of their schedule, specific spots may be the difference in LSU competing for the SEC Conference Championship or missing out on the playoffs with the Tigers spread listed within a touchdown in six of their nine conference games. Including two coin flips when they host the Aggies and battle it out against Auburn on the road.

Even if LSU is able to escape the first half of their year without suffering a blemish, it only gets harder later on, hosting the Crimson Tide and Longhorns before traveling to Tennessee. With other top contenders having far more favorable schedules, pass on the Tigers at their current odds to win the SEC.

Bet: No

LSU Tigers 2026 Win Total Odds

Win Total Odds:

The potential impact of the Tigers rough schedule is shown in their win total with oddsmakers listing their o/u at 8.5. While they should take advantage of Clemson’s regression, there are far too many daunting conference matchups down the road to make a case for the Tigers to clear the over. Should a book open them at 9.5 juiced to the under, consider placing a wager. Until then, pass on this market.

Bet: No

LSU Tigers 2026 Heisman Contenders, Odds

Sam Leavitt, QB:

With Leavitt expected to be fully cleared from his season ending foot injury by the start of the regular season, oddsmakers believe he is one of the top contenders to compete for the Heisman, listing him as one of the betting favorites to win the award. His dual threat ability will help him stuff the stat sheet, drawing the media’s attention as the season progresses.

That is if Leavitt is able to navigate the Tigers through a grueling schedule, potentially halting his momentum when matched up against top tier defenses. Question marks surrounding his injury also give me pause as any form of regression would be more than enough to keep him out of contention while the likes of CJ Carr and Arch Manning exceed his output.

Joining Leavitt is Caden Durham, Eugene Wilson III, and Trey’Dez Green, a group of skill players who will all play a key role in the Tigers turnaround on offense. Unless one of them is able to become Leavitt’s clear number one target, then expect the group to cannibalize themselves, making them all a pass to win the Heisman.

Bet: No

LSU Tigers 2026 College Football Schedule

• Sat., 9/5 – vs. Clemson
• Sat., 9/12 – vs. Louisiana Tech
• Sat., 9/19 – at Ole Miss
• Sat., 9/26 – vs. Texas A&M
• Sat., 10/3 – vs. McNeese
• Sat., 10/10 – at Kentucky
• Sat., 10/17 – vs. Mississippi State
• Sat., 10/24 – at Auburn
• Sat., 11/7 – vs. Alabama
• Sat., 11/14 – vs. Texas
• Sat., 11/21 – at Tennessee
• Sat., 11/28 – at Arkansas