Last season, the Auburn Tigers pulled past LSU with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter after quarterback Jason Campbell hit receiver Courtney Taylor for a 16-yard touchdown to win, 10-9. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said that one play is what put Auburn on the path to an undefeated season and conference championship. “That put us in the spotlight,” Tuberville said. “It gave us an opportunity to build confidence with a team that we knew had a lot of talent.”
Senior defensive tackle Kyle Williams said last season’s loss at Auburn left a sting that affected the team in the weeks afterward. “That one sticks out more than anything,” Williams said. “It seemed to put everybody in a funk for the rest of the year.”
Once again, the two teams will match up – this time to gain the spotlight in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. The game will air also on ESPN.
The LSU-Auburn matchup has proved important over the past few years with the winner of four of the last five games taking the SEC West. LSU coach Les Miles said Auburn has improved progressively through the course of the year.
“They’re well-coached,” Miles said. “It’s obvious they’re getting better.” No. 15 Auburn (5-1, 3-0 SEC) has won five in a row after dropping the first game of the season to Georgia Tech at home.
Tuberville said Auburn has been preparing for its upcoming game at LSU (4-1, 3-1 SEC) since early September. “We’ve been working toward this game for the past six or seven weeks,” Tuberville said. “We know that we’re facing one of the teams that has been picked to win the SEC Championship – not just the West – at the beginning of the year.”
LSU is coming off a 21-17 win at home against Florida last week. In the victory, the LSU defense held Florida quarterback Chris Leak to 11 of 30 passing for 107 yards and no touchdowns. “We have to keep getting pressure on the quarterback,” Williams said. “That’s been a huge key to the past few games.”
LSU boasts the SEC’s top rushing defense, allowing 69.9 yards per game on the ground. Auburn ranks third in the conference in rushing led by junior Kenny Irons, who’s averaging 83.5 yards per game. “They definitely want to come in and establish the run with their offensive line,” Williams said. In LSU’s three games against ranked opponents, the Tigers have compiled 36 penalties for 281 yards and 10 turnovers.
“We are addressing it on a regular basis, and it is a concern of ours,” Miles said. “We can’t have success against good football teams if you turn the ball over.”
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