Seth Lewis, Sports Showtime reporter 

With three players suspended and one game left before the biggest matchup in college football, this game was easily set up to be a “trap-game” for the LSU Tigers on Saturday as they faced the Auburn Tigers.

LSU avoided that trap, defeating Auburn 45-10.

The Tigers of Baton Rouge were led by a bunch of guys that were asked to fill-in a role on the night. On offense, RBs Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard made sure that fellow RB Spencer Ware wouldn’t be missed. Both Ford and Hilliard combined for 147 yards rushing, with Hilliard scoring two touchdowns.

On defense, CB Ron Brooks, who replaced star CB Tyrann Mathieu in this game, continued where Mathieu left off with his stellar play, returning a 28-yard interception for a touchdown. Brooks, along with DBs filling in for CB Tharold Simon, like Derrick Bryant and and Brandon Taylor, held Auburn QB Clint Moseley to only 145 yards passing and an interception. Then there’s DE Barkevious Mingo, who started in place of injured DE Kendrick Adams, who had two sacks that resulted in a loss of 21 yards for the War Eagles.

LSU QB Jarrett Lee and WR Reuben Randle weren’t filling in, but they handled business as usual. Lee finished 14-20 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while Randle finished with 106 yards and two touchdowns, one from both Lee and QB Jordan Jefferson. For Randle, the two touchdowns puts him to seven TD receptions on the year, which currently leads the SEC.

Now we can focus on the matchup that everyone’s been waiting for, LSU vs Bama, Les Miles vs Nick Saban, one versus two. A lot of people have this matchup as the game of the year, if not the game of the decade.

LSU approaches every game the same, but know that this game will be special.

“We take each game just like the next,” LSU Defensive End Sam Montgomery says, “except they’re just as hyped as us. They’re a powerhouse just like us. Now, it’s about focus, and it’s about preparation.”