The last time LSU was a game away from winning the SEC West was 2012. The Tigers went 6-2 in the SEC -- losing to Florida and Alabama. If LSU holds on and beats the Tide in Baton Rouge, it probably goes on to win the West, beat Georgia in the SEC title game and beat Notre Dame in the national title game.
Now, things began to decline after the loss to Clemson in the bowl game following that 2012 season.
From 2013-2017, LSU has an 11-8 record against teams ranked at the time of the game. Three of those victories came against non-SEC teams -- TCU in 2013, Wisconsin in 2014 and Louisville in 2016. So, LSU has an 8-8 record against SEC teams ranked at the time of the game in this strecth.
From 2013-17, LSU has won one game when it was an underdog -- Ole Miss in 2014. LSU has a 1-7 record in games in which it was not the favorite. Four of those losses came against Alabama, one to Georgia (2013), one to Auburn (2014) and one to Ole Miss (2015).
From 2013-17, LSU has been upset nine times -- Ole Miss in 2013, Mississippi State in 2014 and 2017, Arkansas in 2014 and 2015, Notre Dame in 2014, Wisconsin in 2016, Auburn in 2016 and Florida in 2016.
Here is LSU's record against the SEC teams it plays every year from 2013-17:
Texas A&M: 4-0
Florida: 3-1
Mississippi State: 3-2
Arkansas: 2-2
Auburn: 2-2
Ole Miss: 2-2
Alabama: 0-4
That's a 16-13 record against the conference teams you play every year. That is far from championship caliber.
The change did not come after losing the national title game to Alabama. It started with the loss to Alabama the following year and then to bowl loss to Clemson. In both games, LSU had the lead in the final minute.
Now, things began to decline after the loss to Clemson in the bowl game following that 2012 season.
From 2013-2017, LSU has an 11-8 record against teams ranked at the time of the game. Three of those victories came against non-SEC teams -- TCU in 2013, Wisconsin in 2014 and Louisville in 2016. So, LSU has an 8-8 record against SEC teams ranked at the time of the game in this strecth.
From 2013-17, LSU has won one game when it was an underdog -- Ole Miss in 2014. LSU has a 1-7 record in games in which it was not the favorite. Four of those losses came against Alabama, one to Georgia (2013), one to Auburn (2014) and one to Ole Miss (2015).
From 2013-17, LSU has been upset nine times -- Ole Miss in 2013, Mississippi State in 2014 and 2017, Arkansas in 2014 and 2015, Notre Dame in 2014, Wisconsin in 2016, Auburn in 2016 and Florida in 2016.
Here is LSU's record against the SEC teams it plays every year from 2013-17:
Texas A&M: 4-0
Florida: 3-1
Mississippi State: 3-2
Arkansas: 2-2
Auburn: 2-2
Ole Miss: 2-2
Alabama: 0-4
That's a 16-13 record against the conference teams you play every year. That is far from championship caliber.
The change did not come after losing the national title game to Alabama. It started with the loss to Alabama the following year and then to bowl loss to Clemson. In both games, LSU had the lead in the final minute.
