by Over the years, the LSU vs. Auburn rivalry has been defined by many wild and unpredictable games, and this season’s edition of the Tigers vs. Tigers is also full of intrigue. LSU is coming off an emphatic 38-0 home win over New Mexico, while Auburn narrowly escaped Missouri 17-14 in overtime in one of the sloppier games of the season.
There is no doubt that this is a huge game from both sides. A road win over Auburn will keep the momentum going for Brian Kelly’s LSU squad after rebounding from a Week 1 heartbreaker against Florida State. Meanwhile, Auburn coach Bryan Harsin would love to go 2-0 in conference play and show his critics that there is hope he can turn things around.
Let’s break down the top storylines in the matchup and make picks straight up and against the spread.
LSU vs. Auburn: I need to know
Auburn OL woes: Auburn’s offensive line has been terrible this year, regardless of the quarterback. TJ Finley, Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner are under relentless pressure this year. That needs to change for Auburn to be successful, but now it finds itself at the center of the third string against one of the best defensive fronts in the country. Auburn has given up 7.25 tackles for loss per game and 2.75 sacks per game, which is hardly a recipe for success. It’s a big reason why the offense ranks No. 13 in the SEC in third-down conversions at 32 percent. If Auburn can’t block and can’t move the chains, it’s going to be a big night.
Jayden Daniels’ Quiet Success: The senior transfer from Arizona State quietly put together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the conference. He hasn’t thrown an interception, ranks third in the conference in completion percentage (73%) and is second in rushing among signal callers at 65.5 yards per game (which includes sack yards). It will be exciting to see how Auburn’s front seven attacks him. Derick Hall is one of the assets and there is talent at linebacker on The Plains, but the front seven as a whole has nowhere near lived up to expectations. LSU coach Brian Kelly has always been creative with how he uses his quarterback’s legs, so expect him to try to exploit Auburn’s front seven in a variety of ways.
The Harsin Factor: Harsin could have been fired as early as last Sunday if the Tigers had lost to Missouri, according to multiple reports, but the 17-14 overtime win likely didn’t do much to dissuade his critics. Players won’t quit — they want to win more than anyone — but when schedules are in this much turmoil, it can take a mental toll and make a season spiral out of control. If Auburn comes out flat, that spiral is likely to continue.
How to watch LSU vs. Auburn live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 1 | year: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: fuboTV (Try Free)
LSU vs. Auburn Prediction, Picks
Selected game | Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers
I just don’t trust Auburn’s offense at all, especially against LSU’s fast and physical front seven. Additionally, I don’t trust Harsin to use running back Tank Bigsby for four full quarters. he seems to have forgotten that Bigsby existed after the first quarter of last week’s game. LSU will dominate in the trenches and wear down an Auburn team that just won’t be able to keep up. Prediction: LSU (-9)
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