Jordan-Hare Stadium – Auburn, AL
Kickoff: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: LSU -3.5, Total: N/A

#18 LSU will be heading into a hostile environment when the team faces Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

LSU hosted Mississippi State on Saturday and ended up winning 23-20 as a 13-point home favorite. The team was outscored 17-0 in the second half, but was fortunate enough to escape with the victory. Auburn, meanwhile, lost 29-16 as a 1.5-point favorite against Texas A&M on Saturday. The team is just not getting it done offensively, as it has scored 16 or fewer points in two of its three games. Auburn will need to find a way to put up points against LSU or the team could be losing its fifth game in six meetings in this head-to-head series. Last season, LSU emerged victorious 45-21 as a six-point home favorite against Auburn. The difference in that one was on the ground, as LSU rushed for 411 yards on its way to the blowout win. The trends favor LSU in this one, as the team is 12-3 ATS off an extremely close home win by three points or less since 1992. LSU is also up against an Auburn team that is just 1-8 ATS in home games after one or more consecutive losses against the spread over the past three seasons.

LSU was fortunate to have RB Leonard Fournette (285 yards, 2 TD) back against Mississippi State, and the Heisman hopeful rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns after missing last week’s game against Jacksonville State. It’s huge that Fournette is healthy for this matchup, as he was the difference-maker in last year’s meeting between these teams. Fournette exploded for 228 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 rushing attempts in the 45-21 victory. Look for the team to feature him heavily in this one as well. LSU was also fortunate enough to get some competent play out of the quarterback position last week. QB Danny Etling (315 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) is now the starter for the Tigers and he went 19-for-30 for 215 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State. Etling didn’t throw a pick in that one and that’s all LSU can ask of him. If he limits his mistakes then he will be a major upgrade over QB Brandon Harris (139 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT). Defensively, LSU is still one of the better teams in the nation. The Tigers should have no trouble making things difficult on a miserable Auburn offense.

Auburn has really struggled to score points this season, but the team has looked a bit better since turning to QB Sean White (510 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) as the full-time starter. White is not a very talented quarterback, but Auburn was cycling in three quarterbacks in the season opener against Clemson and has looked smoother offensively when playing with just one guy under center. The Tigers need stability at the position and it’s hard to get into a rhythm when using three different options. White will need to make some plays in order for Auburn to win this game on Saturday, but he also can’t force the issue. If he commits more than just one turnover then it’s very unlikely the team will win this game. Defensively, head coach Gus Malzahn will need to be ready to do something to stop the run in this game. Fournette tore them apart last season, but Malzahn is an excellent coach and should be able to make helpful adjustments in this one.