With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sept. 1.
LSU Tigers
National title odds: 20-1
Season win total: 8.5
Phil Steele
Strengths: LSU is one of the most complete teams in the country. The Tigers may have the fastest defense that Les Miles has put on the field, with seven returning starters, and, for once, very few players lost to the NFL.
Weaknesses: Quarterback has been a problem area for LSU for years, and until Harris actually lives up to my expectations, that unit is considered a big-time question mark for 2015. LSU's sack total dropped to just 19 in 2014, and it also lost long-time defensive coordinator John Chavis.
Over/under: I think LSU has a great shot at being 8-0 when they face Alabama on Nov. 7. This is one of my stronger totals, as I clearly expect double-digit wins this year.
National title: I have had great success with my surprise teams, which are teams that are not ranked in the top 10 that I think can win the national title. This is a complete team and one of my stronger title plays at 20-1, as I have them rated above Auburn in the West and Auburn has some value at 15-1.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
This is the first over/under win total in college football that caught my eye, and Baton Rouge, you know you are my favorite city in America, but I just don't see it this year.
Whoever the QB is, I think the offense will struggle, and that's tough to say because Fournette is my favorite player in the country. However, the QB position is limited, and it's a shame because if they had the ability to get the ball to wide receivers like Dupre and Dural on a consistent basis, the offense would be just as dynamic as when it had Zach Mettenberger throwing to Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry two years ago.
When I look at their roster, I only see one definite player to make first-team All-SEC, and that's defensive back Jalen Mills. Plus, the loss of defensive coordinator Chavis, who left for Texas A&M, might be the worst thing to happen to the LSU program in years. Another thing we saw last year was the Tigers lose multiple games at home in conference play to Alabama and Mississippi State (which I predicted).
O/U: The total of 8.5 wins this year for Miles' bunch seems tough to get, so I like the under for their season total. I don't see the Tigers as a good bet to make the College Football Playoff.
Chris Fallica
This isn't the LSU team that fans remember from recent dominant years. The Tigers have spent just two of the last 23 weeks in the AP Top 10; from 2011-13, the Tigers were ranked in the AP Top 10 in 39 of 43 weeks. I look at all the skill the Tigers seemingly have and wonder why they struggle to score points against good teams. Without seeing improvement from the QB position, I can't get behind LSU. Kevin Steele should replace Chavis with no issues, but LSU was 105th in the country in sacks per game last year. Where have all the fierce pass-rushers gone?
O/U: So much hinges on the Auburn game. If they win that one, LSU is likely looking at an 8-0 start. Then why am I so scared to advise taking the over? In its last 48 drives in SEC play, the LSU offense produced four touchdowns. The talent at RB and WR is there, but will a QB emerge? Based on what I saw last year, it's hard to take the over.
Title odds: Again, 20-1 on a team that appears to be loaded with talent seems too good to be true (and it used to be 30-1). I can't fault anyone for taking a shot, or picking anyone to come out of the SEC West, but LSU isn't for me, as the Tigers haven't even made it past the sixth game of the season without a loss since 2011 and are 9-7 in the SEC over the last two years. Plus, LSU's first two SEC opponents this season beat them to the tune of 75-36 in 2014 (and the Mississippi State game wasn't that close).