Buckle your chin straps, ladies and gentlemen; it’s Auburn week. LSU vs. Auburn is a storied, yet strange rivalry. It’s had nail biters, fires, earthquakes, and miraculous comebacks. This year’s game has produced a storyline that proves reality is often stranger than fiction. Former LSU quarterback, TJ Finley, played his worst game as a Tiger on the Plains against Auburn last year. He’ll return Saturday playing and possibly starting for the Auburn Tigers against his old teammates. Bryan Harsin was named head coach at Auburn this year after spending six seasons in the same role at Boise State. Harsin has not named a starter at quarterback, but he’d be hard pressed to leave Finley on the bench a week after saving the Tigers from losing to the national powerhouse known as Georgia State University. The quarterbacks on each side of the field will dominate the headlines leading up to this game, but there are many other factors that will ultimately determine the outcome of this game.

Stop the run

The last time LSU faced a physical running attack they were mauled and deflowered by UCLA. I’ll give Daronte Jones credit for the improvement his defense had made from week to week, but this is the first time they’ll be tested in that regard since week 1. We’ll see the complete opposite of the game plan utilized against Mississippi State. Auburn has an elite running back in Tank Bigsby, and they want to run the ball. LSU has talent in their front seven, but they have to prove they have the size, focus, and heart to stand up to a team that challenges them physically. Jones still has to prove he can adjust when the offense uses unconventional methods to run the ball. This is Auburn’s strength, and the success of the run makes the quarterback’s job a lot easier.

Finish drives

LSU has feasted on big plays this year, but they’ve had trouble sustaining methodical drives that end with touchdowns. The lack of a running game is part of the problem, but there are other contributing factors that have led to a minimal time of possession in games in which they’ve struggled. Dropped passes and inaccurate throws have stopped drives when an otherwise effective play has been called. The running backs haven’t always read their blocks well or had the vision to see open cutback lanes. The offensive line has issues diagnosing who to block when there is movement before the snap from the defense. All these issues are fixable, but time is of the essence. If LSU executes more consistently it results in fewer plays and less pressure on the defense.

Home field advantage

This will be the first game since 2019 that we’ll see a true big game, Tiger Stadium environment. The importance of the game combined with a late kickoff should result in the Tigers feeding off a raucous crowd Saturday night. Conversely, the crowd can have an adverse effect on the visiting Tigers in key moments. LSU will need and take all the help they can get in this pivotal game, and the fans could be the difference in a matchup that could easily go either way.

I’m not sure what LSU’s ceiling is at this point in the season, but they’ve shown growth. The defensive game plan and execution was encouraging against the pass happy Mississippi State. Now it’s time to see if they’ve made the adjustments necessary to stifle a run first team. LSU/Auburn is always unpredictable, but more often than not it won’t be a blowout. A win Saturday will give the team confidence that they can match up against any style they play against; a loss makes you wonder who else they can beat on their remaining schedule. I think the real Tigers continue to progress this weekend, and LSU comes out with a close win. LSU 31 – Auburn 27. Geaux Tigers!!!