The College Football Playoff picture just got a massive shake-up, and it’s all thanks to an injury. Mississippi State’s star quarterback Kamario Taylor, alongside top rusher Fluff Bothwell, is listed as doubtful on the SEC student-athlete availability report. This is a monumental break for No. 22 LSU, giving them an unexpected shot to jumpstart their playoff aspirations after a shaky 4-2 start to Lane Kiffin’s first season.
Bulldogs’ Bite Is Gone, Tigers Suddenly Massive Favorites
This isn’t just about missing one player, either. Taylor, who ranks No. 5 nationally in total offense per game with 321.8 yards, suffered a foot injury back in their Week 5 loss to Alabama. His expected absence, coupled with Bothwell being out, strips Mississippi State of its primary offensive weapons. You know it’s big when the betting lines shift like this: LSU opened as a 10.5-point favorite amid the uncertainty, but now they’re favored by a whopping 17 points. That’s a huge jump, and it tells you everything about how critical Taylor is to the Bulldogs’ offense. This Saturday’s home game against No. 16 Mississippi State was already important, but now it feels like a must-win to turn things around.
LSU’s Road To 84.9% Isn’t Clear, But It’s Now Possible
For LSU, this feels like a fresh start to the second half of their season, especially after those tough road losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky. Conventional wisdom says the Tigers need to win out and finish 10-2 for a CFP spot. But get this: the CBS Sports College Football Playoff Forecaster says even at 9-3, LSU has an 84.9% chance of reaching the CFP. To hit that, they need to go 5-1 overall and 3-1 against the four remaining ranked teams on their schedule. Three of those four crucial games, including Saturday’s against Mississippi State, are at home. Talk about a golden opportunity! We’ve seen flashes of what this team can be, like those dominant wins over Clemson and Texas A&M. But let’s be real, they’ve got to clean up their act. Turnovers have been a nightmare, with the Tigers tied for 117th nationally with 10 giveaways. And the defense? It’s been all over the place, locking down opponents to under 200 yards in wins but giving up 400+ in losses. Figuring things out in the second half of the season isn’t just a hope; it’s a necessity.
The Tigers host Mississippi State this Saturday. This isn’t just another game; it’s LSU’s shot to prove they belong in the playoff conversation. With Taylor and Bothwell sidelined, the path to a 9-3 record and that 84.9% CFP chance suddenly feels very, very real. They need to play cleaner football, plain and simple, and this weekend is the perfect place to start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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