It's hard to believe LSU's home finale is already here. The No. 6-ranked Tigers head out into their stadium on Saturday night to take on UAB (8 p.m., ESPN2). it will be a late night as well as a cold and damp one, so given the opponent and the condtions I suspect it's going to be a pandemic-sized crowd in Death Valley for Senior Night. That's too bad, because the Tigers deserve a better send off than what they're likely to get for what they've accomplished so far in year one under coach Brian Kelly: an 8-2 record and SEC West championship, with a longshot but nonetheless real chance to be in the College Football Playoff. How has Kelly done so well so fast? Our Leah Vann pondered that question and gives us some insights in today's Game Day centerpiece. Meanwhile, I focused in my column on the fact LSU has positioned itself to be the agent of chaos in this year's race for the CFP final four. We've got plenty more for you in this Game Day edition of the newsletter, starting with: Learn a little more about the Blazers in this primer from our Wilson AlexanderPrepare for cold and rain if you're going to Tiger Stadium tonight, though I suspect most of you will prepare by staying home (if you have tickets and aren't going, please make the effort to find someone who wants to go but may never or rarely have the chance).Go inside the betting line on the Tigers and Blazers.Myself, Ms. Vann, Mr. Alexander and the incomparable Sheldon Mickles weigh in with our picks on the game.Stepping away from football for a moment, the LSU track and field program has added a big-time transfer in time for the spring season.That's all for now, folks. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Remember, there's a lot more to come with this LSU football season, and we'll be there for all of it plus all the other LSU sports that are or soon will be cranking up. Stay warm and dry, Scott Rabalais |