Chris Low breaks down what makes LSU dangerous, holds them back

LSU has proven through the first half of the season that it can put up points against anybody. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they have also shown that they have a defense that can’t make stops consistently.

LSU has been winning games by outscoring teams so far this year, including this past weekend against Missouri when Brian Kelly‘s team had to hang on for a 49-39 win.

ESPN insider Chris Low joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning earlier this week and discussed what makes LSU dangerous and what holds the Tigers back.

“They’re dangerous because they can score. To beat these guys, you’re going to have to score. I don’t think you can beat them 21-17 or 24-20. … But the flip side of that is, for LSU, it’s hard when you have to beat people 42-41 every game… there’s a lot of pressure with that,” Low said. “As good as Jayden Daniels is playing right now, and their receivers, I mean they’re moving the ball up and down the field against everybody. At some point when you’re having to outscore everybody, it comes back to get you.”

Daniels has played as well as any quarterback in the country through the first half of the season.

The senior has already passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns, and he’s also rushed for 422 yards and four scores.

He has elite receivers to throw to in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. But twice this season already, being able to outscore teams hasn’t worked out.

LSU lost 45-24 in its opener against Florida State and 55-49 last month against Ole Miss. It nearly lost to Missouri, too. Mizzou had a lead until the final three minutes and was driving to try and retake the lead, before turning the ball over.

“You go back to the Missouri game… LSU was very close to losing that game, as well. But they did play better in the second half,” Low said.

At some point, the Tigers are going to have to play better defensively to avoid dropping another game.

Perhaps that starts this weekend when the Tigers host Auburn. It definitely needs to happen before LSU plays at Alabama on Nov. 4. The SEC West title could be on the line that day.

“I still think, with the way they play defensively, they’re going to have a hard time getting through the rest of this season unscathed. Because you just can’t win 40 something to 40 something every week,” Low said.