LSU (-2.5) at Auburn 7:45 pm ET
LSU and Auburn is one heck of a way to start the SEC West race, with the two favorites meeting in their first conference game.
Auburn was nearly caught peeking ahead at Mississippi State last week, yet survived a crazy 3-2 contest. Junior Chris Todd has won the quarterback derby and needs his teammates to do a better job of holding onto the pigskin. Fumbles and dropped passes have kept the Tigers from being 3-0 against the spread in 2008.
Growing pains were expected in the new offense put in by coordinator Tony Franklin, just not where they have shown up. Todd has managed the games well, though growing concerns are mounting about his ability to throw deep and make connections.
The Tigers are only averaging 162 yards per game passing. No issue on the defensive side of the ball, where Auburn has always based its defense on speed and this group is lightning quick. The Tigers are 9-4-1 ATS versus ranked opponents at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
LSU has had another unsettled September, forced to move their Troy tilt to November 15, and mild uncertainty about what was going to happen with Hurricane Ike as they prepared for North Texas.
This places a talented, yet untested Tigers team at a disadvantage heading to the plains of Alabama. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Hatch has acquitted himself well, however he has not seen this much speed other than in practice. Les Miles and his staff will be working overtime to have LSU as prepared as possible. They are 11-4-1 in their first SEC game of the season.
LSU won in stunning fashion last year, eschewing a field goal attempt to tie, and instead go for the win. Auburn will surely be reminded and are 9-3 ATS against the white and yellow clad Tigers. The downside for Tommy Tuberville’s team is they are 0-7 ATS off a no-cover where the team won as a favorite.
However, LSU has squeaked past many an SEC opponent the last couple of seasons and is 3-11 ATS in conference action. The home team has won seven in a row (4-3 ATS).
LSU by 6
