Ja’Marr Chase Opts Out of 2020 Season; LSU’s SEC Championship Odds Now +750
- LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has opted out of the 2020 college football season
- Chase is projected to be one of the top picks in the next NFL draft
- Find out if we think LSU can repeat as conference champions in the story below
Ja’Marr chase is taking his talents to the NFL draft.
That we knew, but he’s taking them there a little earlier than expected. Chase announced he’s opting out of the 2020 college football season and will begin preparing for the draft now. The news surprised many and caused big movement in the Conference Championship odds.
SEC Championship Winner 2020
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alabama | +110 |
| Georgia | +220 |
| Florida | +700 |
| LSU | +750 |
| Texas A&M | +1400 |
| Tennessee | +2500 |
| Auburn | +3000 |
| South Carolina | +5000 |
| Kentucky | +8500 |
| Mississippi State | +10000 |
| Missouri | +10000 |
| Mississippi | +15000 |
| Arkansas | +25000 |
| Vanderbilt | +25000 |
*odds taken August 30.
The Tigers are coming off a national championship in which Chase was the best receiver in college football. The best player of course was his quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. The second and third biggest weapons were Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Justin Jefferson. All four names you just read are either in the NFL or have left Baton Rouge to prepare to do just that.
LSU star WR Ja’Marr Chase is opting out of the season, a source confirmed to @AlexS_ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EgMGlUgA2O
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 30, 2020
Who Will Replace Chase & Jefferson?
While Chase is the big news of the day, the Tigers are also looking to replace Jefferson on the outside as well. Looking at their current depth chart, it seems extraordinarily unlikely they have anyone to fill the shoes. The two biggest threats returning to the team are Terrace Marshall Jr. and Racey McMath. The pair of receivers combined for 985 yards last year. For context, Chase racked up 1,780 yards all on his own.
A League of Our Own
The Wide Receivers pic.twitter.com/da7hQXlpeq— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) August 30, 2020
Chase is a generational weapon on the outside and the news is a huge blow. He will likely be a top 5 selection in the upcoming NFL draft and you can’t blame him for moving on. Much of the championship roster he was a part of has moved on. With little to gain and lots to lose playing through a pandemic on a depleted roster, he likely made the right decision. That said, it all but closed the door on an SEC repeat for LSU.
Expect Alabama to Get Their Revenge
LSU beat Alabama 46-41 last year to keep their undefeated season in check. They went on to beat Georgia in the SEC championship before ultimately winning the national championship. Well, expect Alabama to put an end to all the celebrating down on the Bayou. Nick Saban’s latest crop of talent in Tuscaloosa is primed and ready to take back their throne atop the conference.
One step closer. #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/8AtBPy3qZg
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 30, 2020
The one question mark for the Crimson Tide is at quarterback. The good news is both options are fantastic players. Mac Jones may get the first crack and he appears more than capable of replacing Tua Tagovailoa as the teams starting quarterback. Should Jones ultimately lose the job to super prospect Bryce Young, I’d like Alabama even more.
Young was the second-highest ranked prospect after completing 72.8% of his passes with 68 total touchdowns in his final year of high school. The odds aren’t great at +110 but I’d still look to Alabama to win the conference and compete for a national title this year.
The Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide (+110)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
