6) L-S-U (2-0) at (10) Auburn (3-0)
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
GAME NOTES: A top-10 battle takes place this weekend at Jordan-Hare Stadium, as the 10th-ranked Auburn Tigers welcome the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers for a key SEC Western Division showdown.
LSU enters this every contest with a bulls eye on its back, as the Tigers are the defending national champions. That hasn't helped the first two opponents on the docket, as Les Miles' squad has routed both Appalachian State (41-13) and most recently North Texas (41-3).
Auburn has already opened its league slate with last week's defensive struggle with Mississippi State. The result was more like a baseball score than a football one, as Tommy Tuberville's team pulled out a 3-2 decision. The win was the third this season, following a 34-0 shutout of Louisiana-Monroe in the season-opener and a 27-13 win over Southern Miss the following week.
Eleven of the last 18 games in this series have been decided by seven points or less. LSU holds a narrow 22-19-1 edge all-time, but the home team has won eight straight dating back to 2000.
The defending national champs have looked sharp on the offensive side of the ball this year, putting up 41 points in each of the first two games. It has been a balanced attack, with LSU averaging 241.0 yards on the ground and 201.0 yards through the air. In addition, the team has shown the ability to finish drives in the early stages of the season, scoring on seven of its eight red zone opportunities.
Quarterback Andrew Hatch has started both games, but Jarrett Lee has seen time under center in both games. The two have combined for just over 400 yards passing and three TDs.
Junior wideout Brandon LaFell is a big target (6-3, 209) and has been the top option downfield, leading the Tigers in receptions (11), receiving yards (156) and TDs (two).
The ground game is spearheaded by talented junior tailback Charles Scott (5-11, 233), who is averaging a ridiculous 11.4 yards per carry thus far, having amassed 262 yards and four TDs on 23 carries.
A balanced attack is what will be needed in this game, something Coach Miles is confident his team can give him.
"I think we will be balanced in both sides of our game. Our football team is best when we can do both and that's certainly what we are going to do. It's a great defense, very talented scheme. We are going to be tested very significantly. We feel like we will be up to that challenge."
The LSU defense has yielded a mere 16 points in the first two games combined, but will be tested by Auburn this week. The numbers have to have Coach Miles confident heading into this game. The Tigers have really been stingy against the run early on, allowing a mere 48.0 ypg (2.1 ypc).
Junior strong safety Harry Coleman currently leads the team in tackles with 10. Junior cornerback Chris Hawkins continues the strong play in the secondary with eight total tackles. LSU hasn't thrived in terms of rushing the passer yet (just three sacks), but there is certainly talent up front to get the job done.
In the win over North Texas, LSU limited the Mean Green to a meager 199 total yards, including just 44 yards on the ground.
Tuberville's Tigers didn't exactly light up the scoreboard against Mississippi State last week, but the team did find a way to amass 315 yards, despite turning the ball over three times.
This is a unit that has shot itself in the foot on numerous occasions in the first two games, something Tuberville expected early on, but by no means accepts.
"I knew that we would make a lot of mistakes. I thought that by this time, we would overcome the false starts and the fumbles. After fumbling eight times in the last couple of games, we haven't lost a game yet. We've got to improve on fumbles, penalties, missing field goals and a lot of other things, not just on offense. We knew that we would struggle."
.jpg)
