Louisiana State @ Auburn preview
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Auburn 10, Louisiana State 31
Both Auburn and Louisiana State are fortunate to still be among the nation's 10 undefeated teams.
Auburn has a trio of three-point wins to its credit, and LSU has escaped with victories in three games that were decided in the final seconds.
One of them won't last another week among the unbeaten, because the last two undefeated teams in the Southeastern Conference square off when sixth-ranked LSU travels to fifth-ranked Auburn on Saturday afternoon.
It's the third consecutive SEC West Division matchup for Auburn (7-0, 4-0 SEC), which has won its first seven games for the first time since 2004 after a 65-43 victory against Arkansas last week.
Auburn has won 61 consecutive games when scoring 30 points or more, a streak that dates to 1996, and the Tigers have added to that streak each of the past four games thanks to an explosive offense led by dual-threat quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in rushing (122.9 yards per game) and is second in the nation in passing efficiency (180.5). He rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns last week, giving him four games with 170-plus rushing yards, a mark that has been matched only once in Auburn history - by Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson in 1985.
With Newton at the helm, the Tigers rank sixth in the nation in rushing offense (283.7 yards per game) and scoring offense (40.7 points per game) and ninth in total offense (481.1 yards per game).
That offense will be challenged by LSU's defense, which ranks first in the SEC and third nationally in total defense (242.1 yards per game), sixth in the nation in rushing defense (83.6 ypg), eighth in pass defense (158.6 ypg) and 11th in scoring defense (14.4 points per game).
LSU (7-0, 4-0 SEC) hasn't allowed a rushing and passing touchdown in the same game this year, a streak the Tigers extended with last week's 32-10 win against McNeese State.
LSU is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 1973 in spite of a struggling offense. The Tigers rank last in the SEC in passing offense (140.3 ypg) and 10th in total offense (328.6 ypg) and scoring offense (26.7 ppg).
For the past three games, the Tigers have employed a two-quarterback rotation with Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee. Jefferson is a bigger threat to run, but he has been mistake-prone, throwing seven interceptions, while Lee has proven to be a more effective passer.
LSU's strength on offense, though, is its ground game led by Stevan Ridley, who ranks second behind Newton in the SEC with 98 rushing yards per game.
Ridley might have a tough time finding running room against Auburn, which ranks 15th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 101.7 yards per game.
Both teams boast outstanding special teams players. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson ranks fourth in the nation in punt returns (21.1 yards per return), No. 73 in all-purpose yards (112.3 yards per game) and No. 24 in kickoff returns (28.2 yards per return).
Auburn kicker Wes Byrum needs four points to become the school’s all-time leading scorer - he ranks second with 309 points.
LSU leads the all-time series 24-19-1 and has won the last three meetings, including a 31-10 win last year in Baton Rouge.
The home team has won nine of the last 10 games in the series, and the winner has represented the SEC West in the conference championship game in six of the past 10 years.