LSU vs. Auburn: Key Position Matchups That Will Decide SEC West Showdown

Fifth-ranked Auburn may be noticeable favorites in Saturday's SEC West affair with No. 15 LSU, but the battle of the Tigers will come down to a few positional battles that are sure to tip the scales in one team's favor.

Coming off last year's national title loss to Florida State, Gus Malzahn's Auburn squad has navigated through a couple of early tests. But it's likely that the Tigers will face six straight ranked opponents in the coming weeks as they continue their SEC gauntlet, and that doesn't include the Iron Bowl in late November.

Les Miles and Co. have already felt the tremors of their own gauntlet, falling to previously unranked Mississippi State at home. The Tigers still have plenty of time and big matchups left, but their already frail hopes of contending in the SEC West will be all but exhausted with a loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

These games hinge so much on emotion and momentum, but not lost among the sure chaos will be proper execution from certain position groups. Without production from these key spots, it will be tough for either team to pull out the victory.

Let's break down the matchups that will decide LSU-Auburn.

Auburn's Rushers vs. LSU's Front Seven

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Even after having some hiccups to start the season, Auburn's rushing attack looks just as dangerous at times as it did a year ago. Meanwhile, opponents have been opening up truck-sized holes in the LSU front seven.

Typically one of the SEC's most feared units, LSU's defensive line is a shell of its former self in 2014 with a heap of youth up front. While there are two juniors and a senior starting on the line, every backup is a true freshman or a sophomore.

That has led to a shocking 70th-ranked run defense so far in 2014, largely distorted by Mississippi State's 302-yard outburst on the ground in Week 4 and Wisconsin's 268 yards in the season opener.

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On the other end, Auburn hasn't dominated on the ground but still comes in a respectable 18th in the nation in rushing—which would be much more than respectable had the Tigers not run the ball with such ferocity in 2013. 

Cameron Artis-Payne has emerged with 468 rushing yards and five scores this year, and his downhill running style makes one wonder if LSU will continue its struggles stopping the run. Add that to the zone read of Nick Marshall, and it will be a tall task for LSU to come up with answers on defense.

Mississippi State is one of the best rushing teams in the league, but Auburn is better, and that should strike fear into any LSU diehard.

LSU's Brandon Harris vs. Auburn's Secondary

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After emerging past Anthony Jennings in recent weeks, LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris will be handed his first career start on Saturday. It couldn't come in a more raucous environment.

Harris came on in relief of Jennings in LSU's loss to Mississippi State and nearly led them to a shocking comeback victory. He continued to impress throughout the Tigers' 63-7 win over New Mexico State on Saturday, prompting Miles to give him the nod for Saturday's affair.

Although nobody knows what LSU fans will get from Harris in his first start, it's just as hard to figure out what we'll get from Auburn's pass defense. It has yet to face a potent passing attack and has playmakers in the secondary, but it still ranks just seventh in the league in pass defense. 

Harris has a dual-threat ability that could make him tough to corral, but Auburn's defensive line figures to generate some pressure by stalemating LSU's strong run game. That will put the onus on the freshman to make plays through the air.

LSU will have to score early and often to keep pace with Auburn's offense, and that will largely fall on Harris' shoulders. 

LSU's Kicking Game vs. Auburn Specialists

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In rivalry games that come down to the wire, the kicking game is almost always overlooked heading into the matchup but ends up playing among the biggest of roles.

The kicking specialists for LSU could end up making said impact if their early stats are any indication. It starts with kicker Colby Delahoussaye, who is a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals this year and only missed one of 14 attempts in 2013. 

But other than keeping LSU out of field-goal range, there isn't a whole lot Auburn can do to change that. When it comes to punter Jamie Keehn, though, it could be a different story.

LSU is averaging 46.64 yards per punt—ninth-best in the land—off the foot of Keehn. But with long punts come the ability for big returns, and Quan Bray has emerged as one of the nation's best punt returners—returning one 76 yards to the house against Louisiana Tech last week.

Keehn has a big leg, but he'll have to use it to LSU's advantage and figure out a way to keep it away from Bray. If he does so and the Tigers get Delahoussaye in position for some deep field goals, it will be a big advantage for LSU.

All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.