No. 15 LSU @ No.5 Auburn (-8) TV: ESPN 7:00 pm Saturday
Daniel: This game usually has something wild happen in it. Auburn is clearly the better football team in my book, but this series can be unpredictable. Maybe it’s the Les Miles Effect. Auburn has played with fire a couple times this season. Their last major game – at Kansas State two weeks ago – was dangerously close to being their first regular-season loss in about a year. Auburn just finds ways to win, however. It isn’t always pretty and sometimes it’s lucky. But I expect them to do that again against a freshman quarterback in Brandon Harris that, though talented, will be making his first start on the road. I think both teams run the ball relatively well, but Auburn holds the edge in passing. Look for Duke Williams and a healthier Sammie Coates to make a few big plays. Winner: Auburn 37-27
Houston: LSU’s true freshman quarterback Brandon Harris gets his first start of the season in this one, replacing the inconsistent Anthony Jennings. Harris has a unique skill set that will challenge Auburn’s defense in this one. LSU’s other true freshman star on offense, running back Leonard Fournette, has put together a solid few weeks and looks to be adjusting nicely to SEC action. All that said, the Auburn Tigers will have too much for LSU in this one. Nick Marshall, Duke Williams and Quan Bray should be able get Auburn’s passing game going enough to where their rushing attack can have some success against this talented LSU defense. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Sammie Coates has his 2014 breakout game in this one. Auburn simply has too many weapons on offense for LSU right now…Couple that with the fact that this game is in Jordan Hare Stadium with Auburn having revenge on their minds for last year’s loss in Death Valley and this spells bad news for the boys from Baton Rouge. Winner: Auburn 38-23
Reed: LSU is an unknown commodity now that they’ve benched Jennings but that can only be a good thing. Freshman QB Brandon Harris has been given the reins and, if you watched the Bayou Bengals play Mississippi State, you know that’s a positive. If Harris had played more in that game, LSU may still be undefeated. Even with improved play at QB, I don’t think they’re good enough to beat Auburn at home. Auburn’s offense has taken a bit of a step back this season, but their defense is much improved and will cause problems for Harris. Winner: Auburn 35-24
Chad: Les is 2-2 against Auburn at home and after last seasons win at home in Death Valley the Auburn Tigers are looking for revenge. LSU has already shown they struggle against the run in the games against Wisconsin and Mississippi State. Add to that they are without starting DT Quentin Thomas, who was already playing with a torn bicep, and you have a recipe for disaster against a run heavy team like Auburn. LSU is 12th in the conference in rushing defense giving up 164+ yards per game this season and Auburn averages 260+ yards per game. It’s simple arithmetic. LSU can’t stop the run and the proof lies in the numbers. Winner: Auburn 48-24
