Paul Finebaum slams LSU's title hopes as defensive woes and Heisman loss could derail Tigers’ success

The LSU Tigers will enter year three of coach Brian Kelly's tenure with renewed hope of making a dent in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and making it into the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Last season, the Tigers had the No. 1 offense in the nation, but their defense ranked No. 82. So they missed out on the College Football Playoff despite having Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels in their ranks.

During an appearance on the "Gojo and Golic" show, controversial ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum rubbished LSU's chances of winning titles in the coming season.

“I don’t see any reason why they should be that great this year,” Finebaum said. “I mean, I think they’re good."

“That defense last year was just patently embarrassing. I admire Brian a great deal, but I blame him. I mean he’s the one that chose their coordinator,” Finebaum said.

“He stuck with another assistant that, frankly, didn’t understand what he was doing. I mean, for the life of me, I have yet to figure out how they’ve handled Harold Perkins who is just a defining player. They look like they just said, ‘How can we screw this guy up and lose (three) games?'” he added.

Brian Kelly has shaken up his LSU staff after last season's defensive woes, hiring Blake Baker as the defensive coordinator to replace Matt House.

Greg McElroy predicts LSU national championship chances

Despite their evident defensive frailties, the Tigers finished last season 10-3, earning their second consecutive 10-win season under coach Brian Kelly. That accounted for the optimism surrounding the program for next season.

During an episode of "Always College Football," analyst Greg McElroy praised Kelly and predicted his chances of winning a national championship with the Tigers.

“I think Les Miles (who took the Tigers to the 2007 national title) is a solid coach; I don’t think he’s elite," McElroy said. "I think Ed Orgeron (who took the Tigers to the 2019 national title) is a solid coach; I don’t think he’s elite.

"I think Brian Kelly is elite. That’s why I think the percentage chance that he will win a national championship at LSU is 50%. Now, remember, people are going to hear that, they’re going to say ‘50%,' I mean, that seems a little low, or perhaps seems a little high. Winning a national championship is outrageously difficult. Outrageously difficult.”

The Tigers will have a better chance of making the expanded College Football Playoff next season, increasing their chances of a national championship win under Brian Kelly as predicted by McElroy.