Auburn vs. LSU: Home-Field Advantage Will Be Too Much to Overcome

When Auburn travels to Baton Rouge to take on No. 6 LSU, playing at Death Valley will be too much for the visitors to overcome.

Rivalry game are often unpredictable, and home-field advantage becomes a big factor. There will be a lot of emotion shown by both sides, so it will important for both teams to be able to handle themselves in a big game.

Auburn has started the season with three straight wins, including a 1-0 start in SEC play. The Tigers have looked good early on, but they will faced with their biggest test to date.

Going into Tiger Stadium at night and coming out with a win is a near-impossible task for any team to accomplish. LSU has lost only one home game since 2010, which came against Alabama last season. Its last two home losses have come at the hands of a top-ranked team—Florida in 2009 and the Crimson Tide in 2012. 

It has been particularly hard for Auburn as it has not had much success in the stadium.

LSU has won five of the last six meetings overall in the rivalry, and it hasn't lost a home meeting since 1999. It has won by an average of 17 points at home during that span. Coach Les Miles has never lost to Auburn at home.

In the last 14 years, Auburn has been able to keep the rivalry close at home despite its road struggles. It hasn't lost by more than five in any meeting and has managed five home victories since 1999.

It has been a tale of two rivalries depending on the venue. Auburn has been tough at home, including last year when it lost by only two points. However, it has been unable to challenge LSU at Tiger Stadium in recent years.

Although home-field advantage helps, talent will end up deciding this game. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been incredible in 2013. The senior has thrown for 797 yards with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions this season, which includes a big victory over then-No. 20 TCU in the opener.

He has had some help on the outside. Odell Beckham has 15 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns, and Jarvis Landry has 246 yards with five scores on 17 catches. The junior receivers have gotten off to fast starts, and Mettenberger has been able to find his playmakers.

LSU ranks 11th in the nation with an average of 46 points per game. It has allowed only 19 points per game, which is also one of the better marks in the country.

This has the potential to be a dangerous week in Baton Rouge as a road date at No. 9 Georgia looms on the schedule next week. If LSU begins to look ahead, it could be costly.

Coach Miles won't allow his team to do that. In a matchup of unbeatens, Miles knows that his team needs to keep winning in order to stay in the hunt for a national championship.

If Auburn was at home in this game, they'd have a chance. It won't be easy to overcome the hostile environment, and Mettenberger will lead his team to another victory in this heated rivalry.

*All information is courtesy of ESPN.com