LSU vs. Auburn Complete Game Preview

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn received its first major test two weeks ago at Kansas State, but the degree of difficulty steps up even higher this weekend in the first of six straight conference games.

And Gus Malzahn's team will not be able to ease into what could be a half-dozen games against ranked competition. No, Auburn will kick things off with a home game against a hungry LSU team that has beaten Auburn seven of the last nine years—including last season, when the Bayou Bengals handed Auburn its only regular-season loss.

It's safe to say the two teams are not at top gear heading into this year's Tiger Bowl. Undefeated Auburn's offense is not at the efficiency it enjoyed at the end of last season, while LSU recently dropped a home game to Mississippi State for the first time in more than two decades amid a quarterback controversy.

However, both defenses have been bright spots this season, with Auburn making the jump toward the top 25 nationally in several major categories and LSU continuing to be one of the country's toughest against the pass.

This highly anticipated SEC West showdown has all the makings of another instant classic in what has been a series filled with incredible moments. Before we get into the full breakdown, here are the basics: 

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
• Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local)
• Place: Jordan-Hare Stadium; Auburn, Alabama
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: LSU Radio Network, Auburn IMG Sports Network
  
• Spread: Auburn -8, according to Odds Shark

LSU Keys to Victory

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LSU HC Les Miles

Avoid the Slow Start

Against Wisconsin and Mississippi State, LSU scored a combined 10 points and allowed 34 more in the first half. While the Tigers were able to come back to win one game and have a chance at a game-winning Hail Mary in another, they might not get that same luxury in their first true road game of the season.

This Auburn team—and what will be a thunderous sellout crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium—would love nothing more than to force LSU into another slow start and take a big lead into the locker room.

LSU should have more consistency on offense if Brandon Harris gets the start at quarterback, and the team's young playmakers will want to come out firing in their first SEC start away from Tiger Stadium. Statistically speaking, both teams have been stronger in the second half this year, but the youthful visitors will need to make sure it is still a tight game when they head to the locker room Saturday night.

Test the Auburn Secondary

While superstar true freshman Leonard Fournette is starting to find his rhythm as the leader of LSU's rushing attack, he might have a harder time finding room against an Auburn team that is No. 14 nationally in stopping the run.

The passing game is still a relative weakness for a much-improved Auburn defense, and both Anthony Jennings and Harris have had success getting the ball to their big-play receivers. LSU is No. 5 in passing yards per attempt this season thanks to the play of targets such as sophomore Travin Dural and freshman Malachi Dupre.

With senior safety Jermaine Whitehead still out due to suspension and a pass rush that still needs work, Auburn isn't at full strength when it comes to defending opposing offenses through the air. Auburn has cut down some of the big plays that hurt it at the beginning of the season, but it will need to play another great game to slow down LSU's pass attack.

Improve on Third Down

The Bayou Bengals were the nation's best last season at converting on third down, but the roles have flipped heading into this year's Tiger Bowl—Auburn is now near the top of the charts nationally while LSU sits in the middle of the road.

The execution should improve with a solid answer at quarterback, especially against an Auburn defense that wasn't at its best in that category against Louisiana Tech. 

Converting a streak of third downs against the Auburn defense will take some air out of the home-field advantage a small amount at a time, and that would be huge for a young team on the road in the SEC for the first time. 

Auburn Keys to Victory

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Auburn HC Gus Malzahn

Run the Ball and Run It Well

LSU ranks 71st in the country in rushing yards allowed per game, and that number includes the shutout victories against the likes of Sam Houston State and Louisiana Monroe, which were held to 50 and 16 yards on the ground, respectively. Take out those games and last Saturday's thrashing of New Mexico State, and you will find LSU allowed an average of 285 rushing yards against Wisconsin and Mississippi State.

Auburn's rushing offense isn't at the heights it reached last season—mostly due to the rough Thursday night trip to Kansas State—but it has averaged 305 yards inside Jordan-Hare Stadium this season. And although the Tigers got off to a slow start at LSU last season, they ran for 213 yards and three touchdowns on a rainy night in Baton Rouge.

Most people will want to see how Nick Marshall performs through the air against a tough LSU pass defense, but the key to the offense's success could be how well Marshall and his teammates in the backfield work the read-option game Saturday.

Win the Turnover Battle

LSU's offense had one turnover in each of its first four games of the season, and it then equalled that number in the first quarter of the matchup against New Mexico State.

But while LSU is prone to giving the ball away in 2014, it still has a plus-four turnover margin thanks to its stingy teammates on the defensive side of the ball.

Auburn needs to continue its protection of the football against LSU, who will be focused on taking advantage of every little opportunity away from home. Sophomore defensive tackle Montravius Adams said after the Louisiana Tech game the coaching staff still wants more from the defense in forcing turnovers, so look for both units to make this a priority Saturday.

Continue the Second-Half Surges

Although some fans might be upset with Auburn's slower offensive starts through the first four games of the season, there's no doubt the Tigers are continuing to turn it on after halftime.

Those second-half surges were also staples of the Tigers' style last season, and it started with the resurgence against LSU.

Auburn's defense has made a name for itself with adjustments in the locker room this season, and the offense has scored roughly a third of its points this season in the fourth quarter of games. In a matchup that will most likely go down to the fourth quarter, playing your best football in crunch time will be of the utmost importance for Auburn.

LSU Players to Watch

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LSU QB Brandon Harris

QB Brandon Harris

The quarterback controversy in Baton Rouge should be finished. Period.

After a horrendous start from Anthony Jennings against New Mexico State, Harris took over for the Bayou Bengals, and the game turned into the rout everyone expected to see last Saturday night. Since Harris also came off the bench to lead a late charge in the loss to Mississippi State, LSU has scored a touchdown on 12 of the last 15 possessions in which the freshman was under center.

But, at this point, it still sounds like Les Miles isn't completely ruling out a return for Jennings, to the dismay of many LSU fans. Harris should and most likely will be the starter against Auburn, and all eyes will be on him as he tries to continue his ridiculous scoring form away from the comforts of Tiger Stadium.

WR Travin Dural

Even when the highly criticized Jennings was the top quarterback for LSU, one player stood out in the passing game: Dural.

With 21 catches for 531 yards and five touchdowns, the sophomore receiver is the top target of a LSU air attack that loves going for the deep ball. Dural is the only LSU wideout to have more than 200 yards and 10 catches this season, so do not be surprised if you see a lot of No. 83 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Dural is one of the fastest players on a consistently speedy LSU team, and his hands are also some of the best on the team. It will not matter who gets the majority of the snaps for the visitors—Dural will most likely be the top target for the sixth straight game of the season.

LB Kwon Alexander

Alexander has simply been a tackling machine for LSU this season with a team-high mark of 30 through five games. 

The Alabama native can be a menace on blitzes, too, so Auburn's shuffling offensive line will have to keep that in mind heading into Saturday's game. Alexander finished fourth on the team in tackles for loss last season and is tied for third-best so far this season with two.

The Auburn offense should already be familiar with the linebacker's talents after he recorded 10 in last season's matchup in Baton Rouge. He will be playing on Sundays in the near future, and the hosts will hope he doesn't get some impressive highlights for the pro scouts this weekend. 

Auburn Players to Watch

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Auburn RB Cameron Artis-Payne

RB Cameron Artis-Payne

If Auburn relies on the run for its success against LSU, then look for Artis-Payne to lead the way as he slowly becomes the Tre Mason figure for this year's offense.

Even with a down game against Kansas State, Artis-Payne is 16th nationally in rushing yards per game and 13th in attempts per game. After punishing a power-based Arkansas team for a career high of 177 yards in the season opener, Artis-Payne said Saturday night he is excited to face another big SEC West opponent in LSU.

CAP's eyes should light up when he sees this LSU defense, which allowed 140 yards on 16 carries to Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and 197 yards on 16 carries to Mississippi State's Josh Robinson. If the senior wants a game that could put him in the national spotlight, he has a great opportunity ahead of him in an ESPN prime-time slot.

WR D'haquille Williams

Williams, who continues to be one of the SEC's most impressive receivers with his highlight-reel grabs, will be excited to take on the top team from his home state—and one that heavily recruited him out of junior college.

"One thing I've learned about Duke is that he's a competitor, man," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "He loves competing. He's ready to play each week. It doesn't really matter who we're playing, he's ready to play. Of course, Louisiana being his home state, I'm sure it's a special, important game to him."

The presence of the Louisiana native will be vitally important for Auburn's offense as it goes up against an LSU secondary that continues to reload and be one of the nation's best. Auburn was limited with what it could do through the air in Baton Rouge last season, and Williams will be a rangy weapon against LSU's long, athletic defense.

DE DaVonte Lambert

One of the newest Auburn Tigers from the junior college ranks, Lambert has emerged as a starter on the defensive line after grabbing the team lead in sacks.

"A lot of things that you don’t see that we see on film, even when he’s not making a big play, his alignment and his technique and his separation of off blocks and holding point on the run game—all those things have gotten a lot better," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "I think he had one of those big pass bat-downs the other day at a very critical time. He really has played a lot better. He got to start this last game, and he’s playing at a really good level right now."

Lambert will need to continue his high level of play against a veteran LSU offensive line and a stable of talented running backs. If he can also get his hands on the quarterback a few times, then Auburn's defense could be in for a statement game Saturday night.

What They're Saying

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Auburn HC Gus Malzahn

LSU

Head coach Les Miles on his quarterback situation, per The Advertiser's Glenn Guilbeau:

"

Anthony Jennings is going to have to get better, and we are going to insist on it. I hope he has not lost his confidence. Some of the things that he did, and certainly the fumble, you cannot do. He will have to make changes and improve. We are going to need both quarterbacks as we go forward this season. I don’t think there is a reason for him to lose confidence in his ability.

"

Miles on preparing for Auburn: 

"

Anytime that you line up against a top‑5 opponent and you're looking forward to playing your best, this will be great competition.  I don't think there is a person in our building that's not excited about the opportunity to go down and play very well at Auburn.

"

Miles on the run defense's struggles against power-conference teams:

"

We have to play like LSU's defense and I think Coach Chavis and that group of young men are doing the things they need to do to improve, and I think we will have another great week of practice, and I think we will play even better this Saturday.

"

Auburn

Head coach Gus Malzahn on the strength of LSU:

"

You can turn the film on and if you didn't know year from year, it looks like the same old LSU team. They're flying around. They have a lot of talent. They've got some veteran guys. I know, a lot of times the freshmen, they're extremely talented so they get a lot of attention. They've got a lot of veteran guys back that even if they didn't start, at least got to play last year. They're a very talented team.

"

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee on recent struggles against LSU's defense:

"

Obviously they've got great talented players every year. It's always a great game. John Chavis has done it for a long time. They have. They whipped us last year, especially in the first half. Our guys should be very motivated to play better in this game, and there's no question we've struggled a little bit against LSU in the past.

"

Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson on LSU quarterback Brandon Harris:

"

I know from just communication, just talking with someone, that he replaced the other day in the game and came in and really did pretty well. I’m anxious to sit down and study the film. Both the kids are good athletes; they’re mobile, they can move around. Obviously, they know more about them than we do, but I think both of them are very capable moving their offense, and they both give you a lot of problems with their mobility.

"

Prediction

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Auburn QB Nick Marshall and DE Jermauria Rasco

Both Auburn and LSU come into this game needing tighter execution on the offensive side of the ball. If LSU starts Harris, and he continues to be the spark that offense needed, then the pressure will be on Auburn to get four quarters of consistent offensive play.

That's not to say that either team has to "play perfect" in order to get this massive SEC West victory. There will be turnovers, missed opportunities and even some three-and-outs. The offense that limits those mistakes against a stingy opposing defense will be the one that walks out of Jordan-Hare Stadium with the win.

As B/R's Barrett Sallee wrote Sunday, this matchup gets even more intriguing with Harris at the helm for LSU, but there is still a big risk in starting a true freshman on the road in the SEC.

If you add the overall inexperience of LSU's top offensive playmakers with the struggles its defense has had against the run—still the heart of Gus Malzahn's offense—and Auburn's home-field advantage, I say Auburn definitely has the edge coming into this matchup.

But for the latest edition of a series filled with classic games and outright weirdness, I don't think Auburn will put together a two-score win. I see this one going back and forth all the way to the final few drives of the game, when Marshall pulls out another clutch performance and the Auburn defense stays strong in front of its rowdy home fans.

Auburn 31, LSU 27

What do you think each side's keys to victory and players to watch will be Saturday? What is your final score prediction? Let me hear them in the comments below.

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports. All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.

Justin Ferguson is Bleacher Report's lead Auburn writer. Follow him on Twitter @JFergusonAU.