BATON ROUGE – Brian Kelly enters his third year as LSU football's head coach.

At his three previous coaching stops, Year 3 was when his programs took a major step forward, winning a conference championship at Central Michigan, making New Year's Six bowls at Cincinnati and appearing in a national title game in 2012 with Notre Dame.

LSU, who is ranked No. 12 in the LMB Coaches preseason poll, has won 10 games each of the first two seasons under Kelly. Could the Tigers, now led by Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback, breakthrough a stacked Southeastern Conference and make a run at the newly expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff?

Here are our game-by-game predictions:

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Sept. 1: LSU football vs USC (Las Vegas)

LSU's opening game will be an ugly one. Both teams are breaking in new QBs, who'll throw interceptions but it'll be Nussmeier that guides the Tigers down the field a late, go ahead score.

Prediction: LSU 28, USC 24

Sept. 7: Nicholls State

The Tigers are bigger, faster, stronger than Nicholls and that's all you need to know.

Prediction: LSU 54, Nicholls 6

Sept. 14: at South Carolina

This game has special teams written all over it. Shane Beamer, much like his dad Frank, specializes in coming up with positive plays on special teams and South Carolina upsets LSU at home behind it.

Prediction: South Carolina 23, LSU 17

Sept. 21: UCLA

UCLA is breaking in a new head coach this season in DeShaun Foster and the near cross-country trip to Baton Rouge will just be the Bruins third game. LSU bounces back from the loss at South Carolina as it rarely loses nonconference games at home.

Prediction: LSU 31, UCLA 20

Sept. 28: South Alabama

South Alabama has a new head coach as well in Major Applewhite as Kane Wommack is now the defensive coordinator at Alabama under Kalen DeBoer. Nussmeier and the offense have another big day.

Prediction: LSU 42, South Alabama 13

Oct. 12: Ole Miss

Five games won't be enough time for LSU DC Blake Baker to get his defense ready for the matchup with arguably the best offense in the SEC in Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin and Jaxson Dart come into Baton Rouge and put up a barrage of points.

Prediction: Ole Miss 45, LSU 27

Oct. 19: at Arkansas

Bobby Petrino's return to Arkansas as the offensive playcaller makes the Hogs interesting but Sam Pittman won't reverse all of his team's bad fortunate from last season. LSU dominates the Razorbacks on the road thanks to a big rushing game from Kaleb Jackson and company.

Prediction: LSU 28, Arkansas 13

Oct. 26: at Texas A&M

LSU hasn't won at Texas A&M since 2017. Regardless of records, this game has been interesting and competitive between the two. A&M makes a play late to extend its home win streak over the Tigers to four.

Prediction: Texas A&M 16, LSU 14

Nov. 9: Alabama

Alabama is going to be better than most are giving it credit for since the retirement of Nick Saban and hiring of DeBoer. LSU's struggling defense won't be able to slow down Jalen Milroe enough times.

Prediction: Alabama 34, LSU 24

Nov. 16: at Florida

The Swamp is a tough place to play but by this time in the season, Billy Napier could be unemployed. LSU plays call control and earns a hard-earned victory on the road.

Prediction: LSU 21, Florida 13

Nov. 23: Vanderbilt

A home game against Vanderbilt comes at the right time for LSU. More physical running behind Jackson and senior Josh Williams overpowers the Commodores.

Prediction: LSU 30, Vanderbilt 14

Nov. 30 Oklahoma

LSU welcomes in SEC newcomer Oklahoma to Death Valley for the regular season finale. Either team will be competing a spot in the SEC Championship but bowl game placement will loom large.

Prediction: LSU 33, Oklahoma 28

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football game-by-game predictions for 2024: Will Tigers make CFP?