Legal online sports betting in Louisiana couldn’t come at a better time for LSU diehards throughout the Bayou.

The Tigers haven’t had a lot to celebrate on the gridiron in the two years since Joe Burrow showed up and led them to a national championship and perfect 15-0 record. Despite what surely would have been massive betting interest following the 2019 season, Louisianans wouldn’t have done well backing the Bayou Bengals over the past two years.

So, why should everyone be fired up to start getting legal action on betting apps Friday? Look no further than the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and the LSU basketball team.

It’s a perfect time to start getting down on the Tigers because the LSU basketball team has been one of the best bets in the nation, covering 70% of games so far this season at 14-6 against the spread. That’s second-best in the SEC behind Auburn (75%) and a good indication that the Tigers can back up the hot start and 16-4 overall record in the coming months leading up to March Madness.

Backing LSU Legal In Louisiana

Will Wade’s squad could even start seeing some slightly-friendlier college basketball lines having lost three of their last four entering Friday’s legal sports betting launch. LSU plays at TCU Saturday and hosts Ole Miss Tuesday night for the first two games in which Louisiana residents can start placing bets on the Bayou Bengals. That alone is an accomplishment considering the route other states have gone.

Legal mobile sports betting in New York is off to a fast start the past few weeks, but betting on in-state college teams like St. John’s and Syracuse is off-limits. Same goes for New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia and a host of other states featuring strong hoops teams. It’s all open for business in Louisiana.

That means college basketball betting fans can throw some money on the LSU hoops teams over the next two months as they fight for seeding in the SEC and NCAA tournaments. The Tigers could currently swing either way at 4-4 in conference play, but they’re clear of the toughest part of the schedule having played four ranked opponents in their first seven games. Now they’ll only face one opponent that’s currently ranked over their final 11 games when they travel to No. 12 Kentucky on Feb. 23.

LSU Especially Strong At Home

Five of those 11 games are at home, which is where this team really comes alive and gets it done on betting sites. LSU is 10-2 against the spread at home this season with an average margin of victory of 18 points. And the disparity in performance is pretty wild at the home gym as well.

LSU averages 79.1 points per game at home compared to 64.3 on the road. The Tigers are already one of the best defensive teams in the country and take it up a notch further at home, giving up just 55.9 points per game compared to 62 on the road.

Louisiana has always been thought of as a football state, with good reason – the New Orleans Saints and LSU football teams are among the most respected franchises in all of sports. But with legal wagering now underway at books like DraftKings LA and Caesars Sportsbook LA, it’s time to start paying close attention to the Tigers’ basketball team.