Pasquali's Pix: LSU still finishing a 'stinking' second

David Paschall

Les Miles is in his 12th season as LSU's football coach, but it's his first with an 0-1 record.

Offseason optimism, including a top-five national ranking, was abruptly drenched last Saturday when the Tigers opened with a 16-14 loss to unranked Wisconsin at historic Lambeau Field. Opening victories had become a given in Baton Rouge, with LSU's last such loss occurring in Nick Saban's third season, when the Tigers lost their 2002 opener at Virginia Tech.

"Monday was the day we kind of finished the game and rightfully bemoaned our performance and the way we finished," Miles said Wednesday. "That afternoon, we said that there was a 48-hour rule and that it's over. We said, 'That game is behind us, and I'm done finishing a stinking second.'

"The idea that there is a lot to play for - you don't need to say that to these guys. They recognize that nothing is off the table whether you won the first game or lost the first game. We just need to get it on track and get it going, and that's the message."

The message LSU fans had hoped to receive was that the Tigers would be more balanced in Cam Cameron's fourth year as offensive coordinator and with quarterback Brandon Harris in his third season in Cameron's system. Instead, LSU managed just 257 yards against the Badgers, with junior tailback Leonard Fournette accounting for 138 of that on 23 carries.

LSU was held to one offensive score, 2-of-10 on third-down conversions and 23 minutes of possession time. The Tigers committed three turnovers, including two interceptions by Harris, who has been enduring his share of criticism this week along with Miles and Cameron.

"The good news is that Brandon works hard and that he recognizes the things he did wrong and shoulders the load," Miles said. "We would have all expected him to play better in that game, including himself, and we just want to tell him to do the things that you can always do and not worry about other pieces.

"He just needs to stay within the scheme, and if he does that, then we'll be fine."

LSU's home opener is Saturday night against Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision program that won at Ole Miss in 2010 and took Auburn to overtime last season.

Pasquali's Pix:

- Nicholls State at Georgia: They say you make the most improvement between the first and second game, which would seem to hurt 0-0 Nicholls. Bulldogs 59, Colonels 6.

- Presbyterian at UTC: Obviously the concern here is whether Shorter took too much out of Russ Huesman's sixth-ranked team. Mocs 48, Blue Hose 13.

- Western Kentucky at Alabama: The Hilltoppers threw for 552 yards last weekend against Rice. They probably won't this weekend. Crimson Tide 41, Hilltoppers 10.

- Mercer at Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have the unique opportunity to improve to 1-0 on two separate continents. Jackets 52, Bears 7.

- Kentucky at Florida: The Gators try to make it 30 straight wins against the Wildcats - a streak that began with Galen Hall in Gainesville and Jerry Claiborne in Lexington. Gators 23, Wildcats 14.

- MTSU at Vanderbilt. The Commodores may have lost their chance at a bowl last Thursday night. Now it's about defending the greater Nashville area. Commodores 22, Blue Raiders 20.

- South Carolina at Mississippi State: This is the latest example of why the Southeastern Conference doesn't look as strong from top to bottom this year. Bullies 20, Gamecocks 17.

- Arkansas State at Auburn: Gus Malzahn's Tigers are favored by 20 points, so oddsmakers are expecting his offense to score at least 20 points. Tigers 24, Red Wolves 13.

- Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech: Had no idea this game was at Bristol Motor Speedway. Could they not have publicized that more? Volunteers 31, Hokies 17.

Last week:

Winners..19

Mad Hatters.6

Pasquali is 19-6 overall (76.0 percent) this season.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.