Predicting the future for LSU
BATON ROUGE — Could there be a better national championship pairing than USC vs. LSU in the dome?
Shreveport's John David Booty, who waited and waited to be the starting quarterback, returns home to play the flagship school and Matt Flynn, who also waited and waited to be the starter. John David Booty of Evangel and Matt Flynn of Lee High in Tyler, Texas, almost played in 2002 as high school seniors, but they couldn't get the game scheduled. This one could get scheduled.
At last, August is nearing its end and the opener is in sight. It's just three days until game day and the end of another rite of August — predicting. Here's one more game-by-game:
LSU 27, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0 — The No. 2 Tigers come out strong and take a quick 14-0 lead behind Matt Flynn, who throws a pair of touchdown passes, and they coast.
VIRGINIA TECH 13, LSU 9 —The Hokies, who returned most of the unit that finished No. 1 in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense, give offensive coordinator Gary Crowton and Matt Flynn fits all night long. And coach Frank Beamer is at his best. Neither offense scores a touchdown. LSU takes a 9-6 lead at the half on Colt David's third field goal, but Virginia Tech blocks a punt and returns it for a touchdown midway in the third quarter and holds on. LSU falls to No. 9 in the nation.
LSU 38, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 0 — Things get fixed as Matt Flynn completes 18 of 23 passes for 261 yards. Richard Murphy rushes 10 times for 119 yards, and Ryan Perrilloux finally throws a touchdown.
LSU 24, SOUTH CAROLINA 21 — Matt Flynn drives LSU 80 yards in the final moments for the winning touchdown, hitting Early Doucet from 17 yards out with 12 seconds to play. Steve Spurrier's team scores the first offensive touchdown against LSU's defense, but he loses for only the second time in Baton Rouge.
LSU 52, TULANE 7 — The Tigers could have scored the traditional 62, but Les Miles starts substituting early in the third quarter. Perrilloux scrambles for a 13-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
LSU 27, FLORIDA 6 — Matt Flynn is virtually flawless as he completes 17 of 22 passes and rushes six times for 54 yards as the No. 7 Tigers send No. 19 Florida to its third defeat. Tim Tebow is tenuous after two early sacks and finishes 10 of 24 for 66 yards.
LSU 49, KENTUCKY 15 — Keiland Williams gains 161 yards on 20 carries as the Tigers win their fifth straight. JaMarcus Russell finally signs with Oakland as the highest paid holder in NFL history.
LSU 17, AUBURN 10 — No. 5 LSU (6-1) and No. 4 Auburn (7-0) play another one for the ages. There's no earthquake, but Glenn Dorsey's sack of Brandon Cox on fourth-and-goal from the LSU 4 with 46 seconds to play seals it for LSU. And the valley shakes.
LSU 31, ALABAMA 14 — The 7-1 and third-ranked Tigers roll into Tuscaloosa, where Nick Saban has the Tide processing well, relative to the season, as it is 6-2 and ranked No. 20. Alabama takes an early lead, but LSU's defense is too much and LSU wins going away as Jacob Hester gains 147 yards rushing and receiving. Miles and Saban shake hands after the game, but their wives get into a knock down drag out.
LSU 38, LOUISIANA TECH 0 — The No. 1 ranked defense throws its third shutout of the season. Tech coach Derek Dooley closes practices, but no one was going anyway.
LSU 17, OLE MISS 7 — In their worst game of the year, the Tigers fumble three times and Matt Flynn throws two interceptions. But a 101-yard kickoff return by Trindon Holliday and a 55-yard punt return by Doucet help LSU muster the win.
LSU 30, ARKANSAS 17 — Matt Flynn returns to form by completing 15-of-18 passes for 210 yards. Doucet returns a punt back 66 yards early in the fourth quarter to ice it.
LSU 21, TENNESSEE 10 — LSU moves to No. 2 in the polls with a win over No. 8 UT, setting the stage for the Duel in the Dome with No. 1 USC. Word leaks that USC coach Pete Carroll has accepted the New York Giants job and is fired two weeks before the national title game. USC hires national coach of the year Nick Saban, who has Alabama back at 9-3 with an upset of Auburn. It's Saban vs. Miles all over again.
LSU ??, USC ?? — You pick it.
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