Showdown of the Tigers: LSU-Auburn

No. 5 Auburn hosts the No. 6 LSU Tigers this week in the battle of the last two unbeatens in the SEC.

This game will be a match up of Auburn's explosive offense led by Cam Newton, Darvin Adams and Mike Dyer versus the LSU defense led by Drake Nevis, Patrick Peterson and Kelvin Sheppard. 

Conversely, LSU's offense and Auburn's defense are nothing to write home about. Both units will be the reason each team loses if that does occur at some point this season.

The key matchup will be Auburn WR Adams who has been huge this year for the Tigers against who many believe is the most talented player in the country, Peterson.

Newton uses Adams as a  softy valve in this offense when they are not gobbling up rushing yards by the bakers dozen.

If Petersen takes Adams away, look for LSU to load the box with Nevis and company and bring those devastating blitzes that have been a staple since Les Miles has been the head coach.

The key in looking at Auburn's defense versus the LSU  offense.

Moreover, the only real threat LSU has had this season  is Stevan Ridley who leads the SEC in rushing at 111 yards per game. LSU has the 113th ranked passing offense in the country coming into the game a far cry from the "air circus" that Arkansas and Ryan Mallett brought to the Plains last week.  

This definitely is a help to Auburn since thier secondary is average on a good day.

I give Auburn's defense a push against a lifeless LSU offense. Miles is a riverboat gambler so who knows what he will attempt to keep his team in this game—Miles has lived a charmed life as of late. Look for LSU to utilize red-shirt freshman Michael Ford more in an effort to put points on the board because they will need at least 28 to win this game.

Newton is a top the Heisman polls and really is exceeding any expectations that were already astronomical before he landed in Auburn as the Tigers starting quarterback.

This kid has the same kind of "refuse to lose" mentality that former Florida Gator QB Tim Tebow had when he was in college. It is no wonder considering that Newton used to be Tebow's backup at Florida.

If Newton plays his game Auburn will be hard to beat at home. Auburns forces your hand with a powerful running game and is very effective in the passing game with Newton's accuracy.

LSU brings by far the best defense that Auburn will see this year outside of Alabama. This will be an epic war between both sides trying to establish the running game and play field position.

This is the SEC, and the winner will have their National Title hopes firmly in tier grasp. Auburn has a decided advantage at home—Newton has not given me any reason to believe he can be beaten at home.

Defense wins championships and LSU has a championship caliber defense along with a coach who is "All In" from the first snap so it would not be a huge surprise if LSU got the win either.

I however, think that Miles only has so many lives and the shortcomings that have LSU has that should have beaten them more than once this season will finally get them beat.

Auburn is good enough to roll LSU, while the Tigers do not have the firepower to Blow out Auburn. I really wish Andrew Luck was the starting QB at LSU, so this one would be more exciting. I will take War Eagle by 13—34 to 21.

Until Then,  Lights Cameron Action

Claude Clayborne

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