JOHN DAVID MERCER/Staff Photographer
The Bayou Bengals come into this matchup as heavy favorites thanks to the Auburn offense ranking in the bottom half of the country in nearly every category.
Ranking 104th in scoring offense (20 PPG), 102nd in total offense (336 YPG) and 111th in passing offense (160 YPG) is flat out an embarrassment to War Eagle football.
The Tigers were coming off a solid 8-5 season with a ton of talent coming back, and we all thought the defense was one of the better ones in the SEC.
If only we knew that Kiehl Frazier was going to struggle this much, then we would foresee this atrocious start to the season.
At 1-2, Auburn could not have started off any worse statistically speaking and they will be running into an elite and dominating defense.
The LSU defensive line could humiliate Frazier and that offensive line because they will simply bottle up the running game. Onterrio McCalebb and Tre Mason have put up decent numbers, but the passing game has been so bad that the opposition has been able to load up the box without having to worry about getting beat deep.
Eric Reid is a superstar safety and Tharold Simon should be able to limit Emory Blake from going off. The rest of AU’s receivers have not been able to draw separation and their inability to simply complete a pass when need be has been costly.
Mississippi State has a good defense, but the Tigers made them look like BCS title contenders and this game against LSU will get ugly quick if the settle for any field goals.
The linebackers for Auburn are one of the smallest in the SEC and they have been getting run over by any and every team they have seen.
LSU’s offensive line has been able to tire and wear down everybody known to mankind. Spencer Ware (fourth back), Kenny Hilliard, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue are tough to slow down because they are physical backs that grind you into submission.
The Tigers are your typical early 1990s Washington Redskins squad that plays lights out defense and they can make you tap out as if Bret Hart is putting you in the devastating sharpshooter.
There is no room to make a reach for the ropes because Les Miles keeps throwing more bodies at you. The only chance Auburn has at keeping this one even close is if Zach Mettenberger implodes in his first ever road contest.
The former highly touted quarterback recruited by Georgia will need to make just a few plays in the passing game, and avoid all critical mistakes.
While the Gators and Crimson Tide could be brutal matchups in the weeks ahead, LSU will not break too much of a sweat against one of the current worst SEC teams.
Note: Alfred Blue is expected to miss a few weeks due to a knee injury, Hilliard will carry the bulk
Network: ESPN
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
Experts Pick: LSU by 20.5
Danny V’s Pick: LSU 38, Auburn 13
