A big time SEC showdown on Saturday afternoon is one of the top games in what will be another weekend in college football. The University of Auburn will host Louisiana State University at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Alabama. Auburn comes in as the number 7 ranked team in the nation, and LSU is right behind them at number 12.
The winner of this game will take an early lead in the SEC West Division, and will be the top contender to take down Alabama for the division crown. Auburn is 2-0 this season and already has a top 10 win under their belt. They defeated the University of Washington in the season opener by a score of 21-16, and then blew out Alabama State in week two.
LSU also knocked off a top ten team in week one when they blew out Miami by a score of 33-17. The Tigers moved to 2-0 with a 31-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in week two in a dominating performance. LSU is a 10.5 point underdog in their matchup with Auburn on Saturday afternoon.
Stidham Looks Sharp For Auburn
Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham has been solid this season for the Tigers, but need to produce more points for the team. Stidham has thrown for 386 yards through two games this season but has only thrown two touchdown passes. Ryan Davis has hauled in ten passes this season to lead the Auburn receivers, but has yet to find the end zone. Auburn has a deep group of talented running backs that have all been productive to keep pressure off of Stidham and the passing attack.
The Auburn defense is what has propelled the team to their 2-0 start this season. The defense is loaded with future pros and the Tigers have put a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season long. The Auburn defensive line is one of the best in the country, and that line was able to keep Washington out of the end zone repeatedly in the season opener. Auburn will face a tough test against a strong LSU offensive line in this game.
LSU Defense Leading the Way
Speaking of defense, the LSU Tigers have relied on their defense to win the first two games of the season. While Auburn possesses the better defensive line, LSU boasts one of the top secondaries in all of college football. The LSU defense was dominant in their week two victory over Southeastern Louisiana. The defense recorded five sacks and three takeaways in their shutout win.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was impressive in the season opener but struggled mightily in week two. He finished just 10-20 for 151 passing yards in two touchdowns against SELA and will need to play much better in this game. Look for LSU to try to establish a running attack early in this game to take pressure off of their QB. Running back Nick Brossette has racked up 262 rushing yards and two touchdowns so far this season.
Auburn Wins Close Game
Both of these teams are 2-0, but each team has yet to play a complete game this season. LSU was not expected to factor into the College Football Playoffs this season, but a victory on Saturday would open some eyes. Look for LSU to try to control tempo, with their run game in order to give their team a chance.
Jarrett Stidham is one of the most talented players in college football, but he will face his biggest test of the season in this game. Auburn will need to find the end zone with their offense if they are going to win this SEC battle at home. This should be a terrific game that will be decided on the final possession. Bet LSU +10.5 to cover in a close loss on Saturday afternoon.