No. 20 LSU heads to Auburn on Saturday with a sharp split between what it has been at home and what it has been away from Tiger Stadium.
In Baton Rouge, LSU is 5-0 and winning by an average of 36.2 points. On the road, the Tigers are 0-2 and have surrendered 67 points.
That uneven profile is the backdrop for a matchup that comes after LSU’s dominant win over Mississippi State and Auburn’s upset of Georgia. The LSU on SI staff weighed in on the game, and the common thread across the picks is that LSU’s defense and offensive rhythm can carry over.
One prediction pointed to Auburn riding high after the Georgia win but leaving openings LSU can exploit. Another leaned on LSU’s defense, which followed the Mississippi State shutout with a strong run of momentum. Auburn’s home field is a real factor, and several picks acknowledged that LSU’s road issues have been the season’s biggest concern.
Still, the return of star TE Trey'Dez Green after a multi-week absence was viewed as a major boost for LSU. One pick noted that LSU has “their backs against the wall,” with a third road loss likely wiping out playoff hopes. That same outlook also said LSU’s defense, with DJ Pickett and Ty Benefield, can disrupt Byrum Brown enough for Sam Leavitt and the offense to push the pace.
Another forecast expected LSU to lean on Dilin Jones to manage time of possession and help the Tigers grab an early lead. The defensive game plan, as laid out in the picks, is simple: make Auburn one-dimensional and force Byrum Brown to stay in the pocket.
Auburn’s recent win and injury issues were part of the discussion too, but one prediction said Sam Leavitt’s recent stretch makes it tough to pick against LSU. He has settled in as a pocket passer, and last week he did not throw an interception for the first time this season. The logic from that pick was straightforward: when Leavitt plays at that level, LSU wins.
Across the board, the LSU staff sees a team capable of carrying the Mississippi State performance into Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers are expected to start fast, defend aggressively, protect the football, and avoid the kind of road mistakes that have hurt them already. Several picks forecast LSU extending its streak of scoring more than 30 points and coming away with a much-needed SEC road win.
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LSU Just Changed The Playoff Conversation With This Road Breakthrough
LSU's trip to Auburn brought more than a needed conference win. The Tigers walked out with a 38-17 victory that ended a frustrating skid of more than two years without an SEC road win, and it came with the kind of balance that has been missing at times this fall. Quarterback Sam Leavitt and receiver Jackson Harris helped drive the offense, while the defense kept Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown from finding much rhythm.
At 6-2, LSU still has a live path in the College Football Playoff discussion, and this was the sort of result that can change how the rest of the season feels. Road wins in the SEC are never easy, and this one mattered not just because of the standings, but because it suggested the Tigers can travel, execute and hold up on both sides of the ball when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Heads To Auburn With Playoff Pressure And A Key Boost
LSU heads to Auburn on Saturday with the kind of November pressure that turns every snap into a referendum on a season, and Jordan-Hare Stadium figures to be a difficult place to manage it. Both teams are carrying two losses and trying to keep their College Football Playoff hopes in view, which gives this one a sharper edge than a typical SEC road trip. The game will air on ABC with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff, setting up an early test for a Tigers team that can no longer afford to waste chances.
A key piece of help is coming back, too, with tight end Trey'Dez Green expected to return from injury. LSU has been working through the final stretch of the regular season without much margin for error, and getting Green back adds another option as the offense tries to navigate a game that could shape the rest of the conversation around its postseason path. Auburn is in the same position, which only raises the stakes for a matchup that already feels like it belongs in the must-win category. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs New-Look Lineup Raised One Immediate Concern Before The Opener
LSUs first exhibition look offered a clear glimpse of how much change this roster is carrying into the season. In the 89-87 loss to Florida State, the Tigers started three recently eligible newcomers in Skyy Clark, Saliou Niang and Brice Desser, while Donovan Dent set the tone offensively with 24 points and nine assists. It was the kind of early test that can reveal both promise and pressure, especially for a team trying to sort out roles before the games start counting.
The concern that came out of it was just as obvious as the talent on the floor. LSU still had pieces unavailable, with Gilad Levy sidelined because of eligibility and Austin Nunez out with an injury, leaving the rotation thinner than it will need to be once SEC play rolls around. For a new-look group trying to find chemistry quickly, the opener hinted at how much the Tigers may have to manage in the backcourt and beyond before the lineup is fully settled. [Read more 🡒]