Nick Saban Picks Former Team as Surprise Championship Sleeper
Nick Saban names his former team a surprise national championship sleeper as the SEC's crowded CFP race heats up.
The College Football Playoff race is becoming increasingly competitive, particularly in the SEC. Only Kentucky and Georgia have fewer than two SEC losses going into November, while eight other teams have already lost at least twice in conference play. With nine teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, many stronger programs are expected to face one another, leading to several teams likely finishing with three losses despite impressive resumes.
Consequently, only 12 spots will be available in the CFP, leaving many premier college football programs out of the postseason.
During Saturday's College GameDay, Nick Saban, who led LSU to a national title in 2003, named the Tigers as his sleeper pick to win the national championship this season. LSU has scored over 40 points per game while giving up only 16 points per game. They have defeated six teams by 20 points or more, which Saban believes could propel them to the championship if their skill players perform better and defensive mistakes are minimized.
LSU currently stands at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, ranking No. 15 in the latest AP poll. Their first season under Lane Kiffin has witnessed impressive victories, including a 51-10 win against Clemson, a 35-6 triumph over then-ranked Texas A&M, and consecutive blowout wins over Mississippi State and Auburn. However, LSU has also suffered two difficult defeats against SEC opponents, falling 32-24 early in Kiffin's return to Oxford and losing 35-34 at Kentucky.
Despite these setbacks, LSU remains fifth in the standings heading into the weekend with a 5-2 record. Their two losses were against tough road opponents, and both games feature teams firmly on track to secure a spot in the CFP. Nevertheless, LSU must finish the season strongly to secure a playoff berth. The biggest concern, as highlighted by Saban, is turnovers.
Currently, LSU's Sam Leavitt has thrown eight interceptions this season, the most in the SEC, with one in each of their two losses. However, he has shown improvement recently, notably with a 388-yard, three-touchdown performance against Auburn last weekend. Leavitt has thrown seven touchdowns to zero interceptions in LSU's last two games, which they have won comfortably.
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