Fact or Fiction: LSU can beat Alabama
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
TAKE TWO: Does Oregon have a shot of keeping Kelee Ringo out West?
1. Georgia recruiting will take a hit with loss to South Carolina.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. One game won’t hurt the recruiting roll that Georgia is on, but it certainly doesn’t help. However, Kirby Smart and his staff are elite recruiters and tons of top 2020 and 2021 prospects are interested. In fact, aside from Clemson, Georgia finished as strong as anyone. Now coaching up that talent is a different story.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. The idea that players drop schools over one loss - even a surprise one like this - is completely overrated and rarely happens. More than anything, elite recruits see an opportunity to come in and make an immediate impact. There’s no excuse for that loss, though, as South Carolina was hanging on by a thread at quarterback and Georgia has former five-stars and high four-stars all over the field. Smart got outcoached in a big way, but recruiting won’t take a dip at all.
2. This LSU team can beat Alabama.
Farrell’s take: FACT. This is a brand new LSU team offensively and the Tigers look so sharp and focused, they will give the Alabama Crimson Tide everything they can handle. Florida’s defense is very good and LSU went right through them and Alabama has some defensive deficiencies for a change. It will be a shootout and close game and LSU has me believing.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Farrell is finally coming around to my way of thinking. I’ve harped about LSU’s new offense being the real thing for weeks and that it would have a snowball effect where success would only build upon itself. We saw that Saturday night in a big way. Florida’s defense is outstanding and yet LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was near-perfect, the rushing attack kicked in and the Tigers have legitimate weapons at receiver.
The biggest factor when thinking about the LSU-Alabama game is that LSU’s secondary is the only one who can match up with Alabama’s elite receivers. I would suspect it’s going to be a shootout and LSU can definitely win like that.
3. It’s time for Lovie Smith to go.
Farrell’s take: FACT. The way Illinois played against Michigan this weekend was the nail in the coffin for Lovie Smith and company. There were so many mistakes in every aspect of the game that it was embarrassing. I didn’t expect the Illini to beat Michigan, but I also didn’t believe they would shoot themselves in the foot so often. This is a poorly coached team and it’s time for a reboot with a young, hungry assistant out there who wants to build up a program.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I’m no staunch supporter of Smith and I completely understand Farrell’s thinking here, but with a third-string quarterback, Illinois pulled to 28-25 early in the fourth quarter against Michigan before losing 42-25. That’s not bad.
Smith has been able to lure some impressive transfers to Champaign who are having an impact and he’s recruiting much better, so I would still give him a while to build this thing. Let’s remember, Illinois has not had a winning season 2011 and it hasn’t won nine games since 2007. This is hardly a football powerhouse.
Smith has been really unsuccessful during his time at Illinois (11-31) and maybe a change is needed, but I don’t think now is the right time.