Miami at LSU 9/2 (at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX)
Two fringe playoff contenders have a chance to start the season with a quality win on a neutral field in Arlington, Texas. Miami was a surprise last year, starting 10-0 and rising to the No. 2 team in the country. Fueled by an aggressive, ball-hawking defense — and its Cuban Link “Turnover Chain” that gained national buzz — Miami’s ascension was one of the most exciting stories in college football last year. Despite the great start, they never stood a chance against juggernaut Clemson — getting pummeled by the Tigers in the ACC championship game. They will look for another crack at Clemson in hopes of finishing the job in 2018.
LSU, on the other hand, has been chasing Alabama for years, but since the firing of Les Miles, the gap between the two SEC powerhouses seems to be widening. Coach Ed Orgeron has continued recruiting at an elite level in Baton Rouge, but a simplistic offense and struggles at quarterback have held LSU’s talent back. The Tigers scored only 10 points total against Alabama over the past two seasons and entered both Crimson Tide games with two losses already on its record. (They were undefeated when they faced Alabama in 2015.)
For either Miami or LSU, the 2018 season is going to start with a loss. An early defeat will be hard to overcome if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
