Beth Hall, USA TODAY SPORTS
For most teams, a 10-3 record would be an outstanding season. But the LSU Tigers are not most teams. Les Miles and his squad hope to “bounce back” from last season’s three-loss campaign during 2013.
However, the Tigers face a difficult schedule this season, so improving on last year’s mark will be a difficult task.
LSU opens the season in Arlington, Texas, facing the TCU Horned Frogs at Cowboys Stadium. Home games against UAB and Kent State follow that matchup.
The Tigers open SEC play in game four, hosting the Auburn Tigers in Baton Rouge.
From there, LSU faces a stretch of six games that will determine the season. Four of the six games are on the road, which will make the task much more difficult.
LSU visits the Georgia Bulldogs on September 28, which means a road game against a Top-10 team. The following week, LSU travels to Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Tigers return home the following week to host the Florida Gators, another Top-10 opponent. Then, it’s back on the road in the SEC West with a visit to Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels.
LSU’s only breather in the six-game stretch comes on October 26 when the Tigers host Furman. LSU then gets a week off to prepare for a November 9 game in Tuscaloosa against the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.
After another week off, LSU closes its season by hosting the Texas A&M Aggies and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
If LSU is to improve its record this season, they will need to be improved on offense. New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will be the man in charge of improving that unit. Cameron is known for working wonders with quarterbacks, which should benefit second-year starter Zach Mettenberger. Last season, Mettenberger passes for 2,609 yards, with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those numbers must improve if LSU is to make forward strides in 2013.
