3 most overrated teams in the SEC

LSU

LSU enters the 2024 season with many new faces on the offensive side of the ball and a defensive unit looking to improve on an inconsistent showing last season. Head coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball between successful high school and portal recruiting efforts in the last couple of years.

But talent and production are two very different things when you're talking about replacing the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback, Jayden Daniels, and multiple other early-round NFL Draft picks on both sides of the ball.

Daniels wasn't the only significant loss for the Tigers offense this offseason. First-round picks at wide receiver, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, were two of the best wideouts in the country for the Tigers last season. Kelly and the Tigers are looking to replace these big-time departures in the receiving corps with a pair of Power Five transfers, CJ Daniels and Zavion Thomas.

The best position group on the offensive side of the ball for the Tigers is the offensive line. LSU returns four out of five starters along the offensive line, including two All-SEC performers in Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers must replace three Day 1 and Day 2 NFL Draft picks. LSU is looking to returning production and the portal, with guys like senior Jacobian Guillory and Georgia transfer Shone Washington to shore up the depth along the interior of the defensive line this upcoming season.

The secondary returns essentially the same group from last season, bringing back four out of five starters from last year's squad. LSU ranked 13th in the SEC in passing defense and passing touchdowns allowed per game last season. Improving that mark will be a big point of emphasis for this group in the defensive backfield entering 2024.

LSU is projected to be a top 10 or 15 team in most preseason polls since the end of spring camp. I think it will be too much for Kelly and the Tigers to replace multiple early-round NFL Draft picks and improve the defense to the necessary degree (especially with all the key losses in the trenches) to be a contender in the SEC, as many expect them to be in 2024.

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