Paul Finebaum: Saturday night was gasoline on the fire of LSU, Bayou Nation

Paul Finebaum believes Saturday’s 31-16 victory against Mississippi State could be what sets the wheels in motion for LSU in Brian Kelly’s inaugural season. Although Kelly started off on a sour note with a last-second loss against Florida State in Week 1, the coach has now reeled off back-to-back victories to put the team at 2-1.

After matchups against New Mexico and Auburn in the next two weeks, the pressure will only increase. LSU faces teams currently ranked in the AP poll in six of their final seven games this season. But if the Tigers can come out of the final stretch with a few solid wins, it could make the season-opening loss a distant memory.

“What you’re going to hear (is), ‘One play away from being undefeated,'” Finebaum said in a recent ESPN appearance. “Things change that quickly, but that was the key game. I was telling a Florida fan before last night’s near-debacle that they really should have beaten Kentucky and lost to Utah.

“Losing to Florida State now doesn’t matter as much (for LSU). You won the conference game, so you’re still alive. That is going to be like gasoline on fire for the Bayou Nation. They feel good, and I think they beat a good team. Mississippi State came in there with a lot of enthusiasm.”

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LSU entered the fourth quarter Saturday trailing Mississippi State before outscoring the Bulldogs 21-0 in the rest of the way to pull off the victory. Quarterback Jayden Daniels finished 22-of-37 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown in addition to 16 carries for 93 yards rushing. He also scored the go-ahead touchdown run with 14:11 remaining.

LSU still has a long way to go, but to Paul Finebaum’s point remains alive in the early SEC race thanks to Saturday’s victory. The Tigers have a nonconference matchup against New Mexico up next at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday before a road matchup against Auburn in Week 5.