Louisiana State @ Auburn preview
Jordan Hare Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2011 ) Auburn 10, Louisiana State 45
Although No. 2 LSU has yet to be challenged on the field, it has been far from a smooth ride this season. In preparation for its Saturday night showdown in Auburn this weekend, LSU was forced to cancel a practice early this week due to a bomb threat that required a campus evacuation. For the undefeated Tigers, it marked the second time in less than a month they were forced to miss practice as they also did so the week before the season opener due to Hurricane Isaac. LSU has also been forced to persevere as seven players have already been lost for the season – including three to knee injuries and four because of academic reasons. Auburn, on the other hand, is off to its worst start since 2007 and will hope to avoid dropping to 1-3 for the first time since losing five of six to begin the 1998 season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET; ESPN. LINE: LSU -20.5
ABOUT LSU (3-0, 0-0 SEC): With RB Alfred Blue sidelined indefinitely due to a knee injury, LSU and its 13th-ranked rushing attack will lean more on Kenny Hilliard and Spencer Ware, who missed two of the previous three games with hip and thigh injuries. Injuries have also affected the defensive backfield and offensive line, although sophomore S Ronald Martin recorded two interceptions last week – returning one for a touchdown – in place of injured starter Craig Loston (turf toe). Up front, starting C P.J. Lonergan (back) and LT Josh Dworaczyk (calf) have each missed time already, although both are expected to play this week.
ABOUT AUBURN (1-2, 0-1): Although Auburn has used a committee approach to the backfield to this point, the team has stated publically that it would like to see one back emerge. Although sophomore Tre Mason leads the team in rushing, RB Onterio McCalebb may have taken a huge leap forward with his 128-yard, one-touchdown performance in Auburn’s 31-28 overtime win over Louisiana-Monroe. A repeat of that performance seems unlikely this week, however, as LSU owns the fourth-best rushing defense in the nation. Sophomore QB Kiehl Frazier played miserably two weeks ago at Mississippi State but showed improvement in last week's OT win over Louisiana-Monroe.
EXTRA POINTS
1. LSU has won a NCAA-best 16 consecutive regular-season games.
2. After winning its previous eight games against ranked opponents, Auburn has dropped five in a row in such matchups.
3. The home team has won 11 of the last 12 games in this series.
PREDICTION: LSU 41, Auburn 10