| The LSU Tigers are a big favorite over Central Michigan in Tiger Stadium on Saturday (6:30 p.m., SEC Network). But the way the Tigers have played so far, they're not beyond the clutches of a big upset. An upset they'll have to try to avoid without some important pieces on the field Saturday night. Coach Ed Orgeron said on Wednesday's weekly SEC coaches' teleconference that LSU will likely be without senior defensive end Ali Gaye and junior safety Jay Ward against the Chippewas. Gaye will miss his second straight game while Ward has been out since the first half of the season opener at UCLA. Our Wilson Alexander tells you who will have to fill in the gaps on LSU's defense this week. Meanwhile on offense, running backs coach Kevin Faulk will be absent as he and his family deal with the tragic death of his daughter, Kevione. The 19-year old, who was a student worker in the football program, died Monday. Please read on about the second tragic death to involve a member of the LSU coaching staff in the past three years. One of Faulk's running backs, John Emery, continues to sit out having been ruled academically ineligible for the season by the NCAA. Despite that, Emery family attorney Don Jackson is hopeful an appeal will overturn that ruling, possibly in time to get Emery back on the field for LSU's SEC opener Sept. 25 at Mississippi State. While you may be on the fence about the Tigers' postseason hopes after their 1-1 start, check out my compilation of national bowl projections to see where LSU might wind up in December or January. And if you're already looking past football to baseball season, check out Wilson's breakdown of LSU's 2022 baseball schedule, it's first under new coach Jay Johnson. Wilson also recently wrote about LSU's plan to be more up tempo against CMU than the Tigers have been in their first two games (Wilson sure is busy). Happy reading from The Advocate LSU beat team, Scott Rabalais, Wilson Alexander and Sheldon Mickles | 
