LSU walks into this matchup with a defense that has been doing serious work for most of the season. The lone real blemish came against Kentucky, but outside of that night, Blake Baker’s unit has been one of the SEC’s best.
Last week, the Tigers blanked Mississippi State, and the numbers back up the eye test: LSU is giving up 15.86 points per game, which ranks second in the conference.
That sets up a fascinating test against Auburn, fresh off its huge upset of then-No. 1 Georgia. The shocker may have changed the conversation around Auburn, but it also put a spotlight on the place LSU should be able to attack: the offensive line.
LSU’s pass rush has been relentless. The Tigers have 27 sacks, which is second in the FBS, just three behind Tennessee.
Auburn, meanwhile, has already allowed an SEC-high 23 sacks. That’s the kind of mismatch that can swing a game before it ever finds its rhythm.
Even against Georgia, Auburn’s protection had issues. Byrum Brown was taken down five times in that win, and this is still a rebuilt offensive line trying to settle in. LSU has a real chance to turn that into pressure all afternoon.
There is one wrinkle. Princewill Umanmielen was a key piece of LSU’s defensive front, but his status for Saturday is still up in the air after he left last week’s game with an injury and did not return. The injury report should give a clearer picture, but the possibility remains that LSU may have to go without one of its top edge rushers.
If that happens, Jordan Ross becomes even more important. He answered the call against Mississippi State with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, and Deuce Geralds could also be part of the answer if LSU needs more heat off the edge.
Brown, though, is not the kind of quarterback you just corral and forget about. He has rushed for 459 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games, which means LSU’s defense has to stay disciplined. Blake Baker’s group has to account for Brown’s legs and keep him from turning third downs into explosives.
The cleanest path for LSU is pretty straightforward: make Brown uncomfortable, keep him in the pocket, and force Auburn away from the game it wants to play.
That matters because Auburn does not want this to become a throwing contest. Brown’s 185 pass attempts rank ninth among SEC quarterbacks, and the Tigers are at their best when the run game is carrying the load. LSU has to get ahead early enough to make Auburn chase points and lean more heavily on the pass.
Of course, none of that works if LSU can’t slow the run first. The front has to control the line of scrimmage, force Auburn into long-yardage spots, and make the offense operate in obvious passing situations. If LSU can do that, it can shorten the game and put Auburn’s vulnerable line in exactly the kind of trouble the Tigers want.
Auburn is riding high after the Georgia upset, but LSU has a clear path to winning this one.
In Other News...
LSU's SEC Fight Just Raised A New Problem For Will Wade
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has jumped into LSUs ongoing fight with the SEC, filing a motion that seeks to knock out the conferences federal lawsuit against LSU officials. Murrill dismissed the SECs latest claims as a Hail Mary, a sign that the case, which began with allegations aimed at LSU football officials over recruiting ex-pro athletes, has now widened into a much messier battle for the university.
The expansion into mens basketball only adds to the pressure around Will Wades program, especially with the SEC now pressing beyond the original football-related dispute. Wade has already said he plans to follow conference rules that bar athletes who previously signed professional contracts from being rostered, but the conferences broader approach means LSU is now dealing with a legal fight that could reach deeper into how it handles basketball recruiting, too. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Roster Picture Just Changed With One Big Eligibility Twist
LSUs roster picture got a lot clearer with a wave of eligibility updates that should help settle some of the uncertainty around the mens basketball rotation. Saliou Niang, Brice Dessert, Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent have all been ruled eligible to play, giving the Tigers a stronger sense of what their lineup and depth chart can look like as the season approaches. Niang brings the promise of an athletic upside that has already made him stand out as an NBA draft pick, while Dessert is expected to add help in the frontcourt.
Dent and Clark, who were teammates at UCLA, now look set to be part of LSUs backcourt mix, an encouraging development for a team trying to build continuity in the right places. Even so, not every update was as clean, and one players status came with a less positive note, leaving at least one part of the roster situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Should Keep An Eye On Bryce Underwood's Michigan Drama
Bryce Underwoods situation at Michigan has quickly become one of the more closely watched quarterback storylines in the country, and LSU fans have a natural reason to pay attention. The freshman has been benched, with Tommy Carr expected to take over as the starter in the upcoming game, which has only added to the uncertainty around Underwoods place in Ann Arbor and where his career might be headed next.
Underwood has not entered the transfer portal, but the chatter around his future is already building, and LSU is among the programs being mentioned as a possible landing spot if he chooses to move on. Miami, Texas Tech, Georgia and Kentucky are also in the mix, which means this could become a national recruiting and roster watch for the Tigers if the situation keeps trending in this direction. [Read more 🡒]