College Football
#12 LSU Tigers vs #7 Auburn Tigers Preview
One thing is true about Saturday’s SEC West Showdown between #7 Auburn and #12 LSU, the Tigers will win. Which group of Tigers? Will it be the ones wearing purple and gold or the other one? Read on and you will soon know which winning side to choose in the Saturday afternoon showdown at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The LSU Advantage
The Tigers of LSU brought down “The U” in week one in convincing fashion. In week two, they took down a win they were expected to get dropping Southeastern Louisiana 31-0. Some called it unimpressive with just 78 yards of second half offense. By that point, the game was in hand and it is doubtful that the “so-called experts” would have been happy with 77-0 trouncing. Either way LSU was not going to win in the eyes of the prognosticators.
LSU did a lot of things right and that should be of concern for Auburn. This season LSU has a quarterback. His name is Joe Burrows. The Plains Ohio native is 21 of 44 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. The 6’4 216lb gunslinger has proven he can throw downfield and do it with accuracy. Auburn will be his stiffest test unlike any other. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron likes to run multiple receiver sets and Burrows has proven he is more than capable. Against Auburn, his arm will come in handy. As LSU stretches the field, the run game comes alive. As the run game comes alive, points go on the board.
“I would say it’s going to be important that I portray confidence in the game plan and confidence in my teammates this week so we have some confidence going into Saturday,” Burrow said earlier in the week. “If we go timid or soft, we’re going to get rolled in … Auburn Stadium?”
If all he gets wrong is the name of the stadium in Auburn, it will be a good Saturday for him and his LSU teammates.
The Auburn Advantage
Don’t think Auburn has forgotten the upset in Baton Rouge last season. Don’t think that they don’t remember leading 17-0 after one quarter. There is no doubt that the feeling of being shut out in the second has left a bad taste in the Tigers mouth enroute to losing 27-23.
Auburn doesn’t lose at home. It’s 13 straight and counting as LSU comes calling. Two of those 13 wins came over Georgia and Alabama last season. Both those games were double digit wins for the Tigers. Auburn is 7-2 at home against LSU in ther last nine meetings. They are 11-4 against LSU since 1984.
Auburn playing with a chip on their shoulder is not a good thing for the LSU Tigers. Auburn quarterback Jason Stidham has had a year to think about his 9 of 26 performance of last season. Since that loss, the Auburn signal caller has completed nearly 70% of his passes. Not a good sign for LSU. If that Stidham shows up Saturday, LSU will be in trouble.
The Final Whistle
Auburn has already beaten former #10 Washington at the same time LSU was taking down Miami. LSU blew out Southeastern Louisiana while Auburn was blowing out Alabama State.
An LSU win over Auburn would be a signature mark in 2018. It would more then likely propel them towards the playoff conversation. The momentum alone should make Alabama and Clemson take notice.
An Auburn win would be a nice payback for last season’s debacle in Baton Rouge. Revenge though is not enough on which to base a win. So is there more? For that we will have to wait and see.
This rivalry is like no other. Saturday will be like no other. LSU wins 21-18.
Photo credit to Urbanimagery Photography via Flickr
