NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Line: LSU (-7.5)
The SEC West is looking as tough as ever heading into Week 3 where the contenders will be separated from the pretenders. One game to watch as the conference race heats up this week is in Baton Rouge where the No. 13 LSU Tigers (1-0) host the No. 18 Auburn Tigers (2-0).
Auburn has suffered a free-fall out of the top-10 where they were ranked in the preseason after a pair of uninspiring wins to start the year. Last week, the then-No. 6 Tigers were pushed to overtime against FCS Jacksonville State where they escaped with a 27-20 win but tumbled 12 spots in the rankings for Week 3. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson has yet to find his rhythm under center, completing 32 of 53 passes in the first two games for just 373 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. The defense, which was the team’s biggest weakness a season ago, has room to improve as well as they are giving up 22 points and 421.5 yards per game so far.
LSU got to play their first game of the year last week after their Week 1 game was cancelled due to weather. The Tigers scored a huge road victory in conference play last week when they held off the Mississippi State Bulldogs 21-19 in Starksville and will look to continue their strong start behind the rushing of Leonard Fournette who carried the offense in Week 2 with 159 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. LSU will need to get a bit more balance in their offense, however, after Brandon Harris threw for just 71 yards in the win at MSU.
The Tigers came into the season with title aspirations but have fallen off many people’s radar after struggling more than they should in the first two weeks. Is Death Valley the spot where Auburn gets back on track or where their hopes of a spot in the College Football Playoff get put to rest?
Prediction: LSU 31, Auburn 17
You can follow Tyler Brett on Twitter @ATylerBrett, on Facebook and on Google.
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