The recent history between LSU and Auburn has been anything but bland.
Dating back to the 2004 season, five of the six games between Auburn and LSU have been decided in the final 60 seconds, with LSU emerging victorious in three of the five contests.
The battle between LSU and Auburn this season promises to be just as full of intrigue. Both undefeated, No. 6 LSU and No. 4 Auburn will be vying for Southeastern Conference Western Division supremacy.
“This year, I think it’s as big as ever,” said junior running back Stevan Ridley. “We’re both top-10. We’re both undefeated. [This game is] going to decide the West, so there’s a lot of pressure riding on this game.”
LSU is 7-0 for the first time since 1973, though the way it has gotten to that record has left something to be desired from some national media pundits.
Some of that doubt could be erased if LSU emerges victorious from the top-10 clash.
“They are undefeated, and there is great history between the two schools,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It always seems to come down to a very close and competitive game.”
From 2004 to 2008, LSU and Auburn were separated by only nine points total on the scoreboard.
Three games were decided by touchdown passes that all occurred with less than 1:16 on the clock, one was decided by an overtime field goal, and in 2006, former LSU receiver Craig Davis was tackled on the Auburn 4-yard line as time expired.
The 2010 version of the Auburn Tigers presents a different problem for LSU from previous Auburn teams. Junior quarterback Cameron Newton has entrenched himself in Heisman Trophy consideration with his all-around play this season.
Newton leads the SEC and is second in the NCAA in quarterback rating with a mark of 180.5 and is also tied for the second-most touchdown passes in the SEC with 13.
But Newton has really hurt opposing defenses with his legs. Newton leads the SEC with 860 rushing yards — 174 more than Ridley, the conference’s second leading rusher. Newton also leads the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns.
“He runs hard. He gives a blow like a fullback,” Miles said about Newton. “He’s elusive like a tailback, and he has a great touch on the ball. As capable as he is running, he’s also that capable throwing. Legitimately, he’s a Heisman contender.”
Newton tallied seven rushing touchdowns in his last two games against Arkansas and Kentucky. Auburn averaged 51 points in the wins.
The Auburn offense is averaging 40.7 points per game on the season, which leads the SEC and is good for sixth in the nation. Auburn’s 481 yards of offense per game is also tops in the SEC.
But the only SEC defense on Auburn’s early schedule that is in the top half of the conference in yards allowed has been Mississippi State — and the Bulldogs held Auburn to its lowest point total of the season in a 17-14 game.
The game will pit the SEC’s top-ranked offense against its top-ranked defense. LSU’s defense is third in the nation in yards allowed at 242 per game, while only giving up 14 points per game.
“We’re winning ball games right now. We’ve just got to keep the train rolling and just keep being confident,” said junior quarterback Jarrett Lee. “We’ve got to keep our defense off the field and keep them fresh because we have confidence in them.”
Lee’s resurgence at the quarterback position is good news for the Tigers. Lee’s last-second touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell in his freshman year of 2008 marked LSU’s first victory at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium in 10 years.
Lee is now the main ingredient in a two-quarterback system that has recharged a Tiger offense that was stagnant in the first five games of the season.
LSU will need the quarterbacks to thrive against Auburn.
Auburn’s run defense is ranked third in the SEC, but its pass defense is ranked near the bottom of the NCAA at 108th.
Sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard said the LSU offense needs to take advantage of its opportunities.
“They’re going to bend, but they won’t break. We have to be the first team that breaks them,” Shepard said. “We have to go out and make plays and make things happen on the perimeter. We’ve got to be able to make plays with the ball in our hands.”
 
 
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]