- LSU quarterback Myles Brennan has sustained what the school is describing as a ‘severe’ arm injury.
- A statement released by the school didn’t reveal any details but sources suggest Brennan has a broken left arm that will require surgery.
- LSU went 5-5 in last year’s COVID-19 truncated college football schedule.
The start of the college football season is still a month away but already things are looking bleak for 2019 National Champions LSU. Presumptive starting quarterback Myles Brennan has sustained a left arm injury that will require surgery. Few details have been released by the school as to the nature of the injury other than an indication that it is ‘severe’ and will require surgery ‘ASAP’. Beyond that, there is no prognosis or timetable for his return. Sources in Baton Rouge along with local media indicate that Brennan has a broken bone–perhaps a compound fracture–in his left (non-throwing) arm. Brennan reportedly was injured in what is being described as a ‘freak fall’. He will have surgery on Tuesday morning.
Brennan, a fifth year senior, has had a rough time with injuries during his college career. He spent 2019 as the primary backup to Joe Burrow during LSU’s National Championship season. He started 2020 as the starter, playing in three games before suffering an injury to his throwing shoulder during a 45-41 loss to Missouri. He was initially listed as ‘doubtful’ on the injury report but wouldn’t play again last season. The ultimate reason that Brennan was lost for the season is somewhat vague. Initial reports didn’t detail the exact nature of his injury, though it was presumed to be a shoulder issue. Other reports suggest that it was an abdominal injury that ended his campaign.
Most college football observers considered Brennan to be the top quarterback on the Bayou Bengals’ depth chart. In a statement announcing the injury, head coach Ed Orgeron said only that he was ‘in the fight’ to be the team’s starting quarterback along with sophomore Max Johnson:
“Myles Brennan suffered a severe injury that will require surgery. His timeline is yet to be determined. Myles has done everything we have asked of him this summer and was in the fight to be the starting quarterback at LSU.”
Orgeron had spoken highly of both Brennan and Johnson at the SEC’s media days last month calling both “championship quarterbacks”.
“Whoever wins is going to do a great job at LSU. It’s going to be a tremendous battle, and we’ll see what happens.”
Brennan’s injury now thrusts Johnson into the starting quarterback role. Johnson started three games last season including two late season victories that prevented LSU from suffering the program’s first losing season since 1999 upsetting Florida and winning their finale against Ole Miss. The other quarterback on LSU’s 2020 roster was TJ Finley who started four games. Finley transferred to Auburn after the end of the 2020 season.
The injury to Brennan hasn’t generated much concern in the college football betting marketplace. LSU’s 2021 opener at UCLA on Saturday, September 4 opened with the Bayou Bengals as a -4.5 point road favorite. There was some early movement toward the home team and prior to the injury the price was -4.5 or -4 with a few stores at -3.5. That’s where they still stand though a few books such as Betfred Sports in Colorado have the game off the board at the moment.
LSU is expected to show some improvement this season based on the college football futures betting markets. At BetOnline.ag, LSU is one of three teams priced at +2800 to win the National Championship along with Florida and Texas. Only eight teams are shown at shorter odds led by Alabama (+260) and Clemson (+450). LSU is also a +1600 choice along with Florida to win the SEC Championship behind Alabama (-165), Georgia (+190) and Texas A&M (+1200). The Bayou Bengals’ season win total is set at 8.5 with the OV at -110 and the UN at -120.
