Paul Finebaum: LSU is in 'great shape' after defeating Ole Miss

Paul Finebaum loves where LSU placed itself among SEC and College Football Playoff contenders after the win over Ole Miss.

Now at 5-1 through the halfway point, LSU’s won five games in a row and is now top 10 in the latest AP Poll. As Finebaum pointed out, everything might come down to the Tigers’ game against Alabama, but things are trending in the right direction.

Perhaps this is how the SEC is going to shape out down the stretch of the season.

“I know some LSU fans are going to say today, ‘hey, you know we’re just one play away from whatever.’ No, you’re not,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “I mean, they should have lost the South Carolina game. So it evens out. I mean, that was such a big game for Brian Kelly, and now he’s got some typical road games ahead, but that Alabama game is looming so large in the second weekend in November. 

“And quite frankly, they’re in great shape. They have now moved into that upper echelon of the SEC teams because so many others are starting to back up.”

Brian Kelly might’ve been wise to not be as aggressive at the end of LSU’s win over Ole Miss. By playing for overtime, perhaps he ensured a better shot at a victory.

Kicking the PAT near the end of regulation and the holding Ole Miss to a field goal in OT, paved the way for the magical winning moment.

Kelly’s gambit paid off, as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier connected with wideout Kyren Lacy on a back shoulder touchdown throw for a walk off overtime winner.

“I just felt like we had been behind all game and the kids worked so hard to come back in this game, I didn’t want to take that away from them. I wanted to go with a high percentage there. Kick it, go into overtime, and celebrate like this,” Kelly said to sideline reporter Molly McGrath amidst a stormed field at Tiger Stadium.

And Kelly gave credit to Nussmeier and Lacy for making it happen in overtime for LSU.

“Well, Nussmeier is just, he’s such a competitor. We got it to Kyren Lacy, who’s been big for us. And we needed to make a play down here,” Kelly said. “We’ve been down here all night and kicking field goals, and as I told you coming out of the third quarter, we’ve gotta score touchdowns. They got the field goal, we got the touchdown. Pretty great game. Both teams played great tonight and we made the big play when we needed to.”