Expect the unexpected this weekend when the No. 12 ranked LSU Tigers make their way into Jordan-Hare stadium to face off against the No. 7 ranked Auburn Tigers.
Both teams will get their first taste of Southeastern Conference play this Saturday as they try to pick up a pivotal Top-25 win early in the season.
The team’s last two games against Auburn have been memorable to say the least. In 2016 LSU miraculously scored a last second touchdown in the corner of the end zone to win the game, only to see it overturned in what would end up being former coach Les Miles last game on the sidelines for LSU.
“Tough night. On the last play we scored, time ran out on the clock though,” said coach Ed Orgeron on returning to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time since taking over as head coach. “Emotional day for everybody. Coach [Les] Miles did a great job for everybody over here. That was an emotional time for everybody. Unexpected things happened, but we dealt with it and we moved on.”
The Tigers will certainly be entering hostile territory on Saturday from the Auburn faithful, after, much like the previous year, LSU gave Auburn its second loss of the 2017 season in a 20-point comeback win.
Auburn is poised for the big game after already taking down a Top-10 opponent in the previously ranked No. 6 Washington Huskies. The War Eagles will be ready for the big stage as they lean on their stout defense that leads the SEC in interceptions and is tied for the lead in sacks.
The LSU offensive line will have its biggest test to date against the War Eagles as Auburn brings back three of its four starters along the defensive line, led by potential 2019 first-round NFL draft pick Marlon Davidson.
LSU has had to shuffle its offensive line multiple time after both Adrian Magee and Saahdiq Charles sat out with injuries following the Miami game. The Tigers expect to be healthier this weekend, but with the touch matchup ahead coach Orgeron knows his team needs to improve fast if they hope to contain the Auburn defense.
“There will be a lot of things we have to face this week. First of all, we have to fix ourselves. There’s some things that we can fix,” Orgeron said. “There are some technical errors that we can fix. Getting Saahdiq [Charles] back at left tackle will help us. Moving Austin [Deculus] to right tackle will give Badara [Traore] some help. Crowd noise, we’re going to work on it all week. We’ll be ready to go. I believe our offensive line is going to have its best game Saturday. I totally believe in what we’re doing.”
The entire LSU team will have to perform at its best if they hope to defeat the War Eagles. The Tigers have been excellent this season at managing turnovers, accounting for zero on the year, bringing the turnover margin to plus five on the season.
If LSU hopes to be successful on Saturday, they need to dominate in the trenches. The home team has won 16 of the last 18 games in the series dating back to 2000.
If the Purple and Gold want to break that streak, the team will need to treat this game like a street fight, one that will see two of the SEC West’s oldest rivals pair up to prove who has the best team in the SEC West behind the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“It’s going to be a war,” said junior defensive linemen Breiden Fehoko. “When I say war, I mean a true war. It’s the SEC West. It’s the best conference in football.”
