By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
LSU received all five picks in its favor from ESPN College GameDay’s” predictions of the matchup between the No. 18 Tigers (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) and Auburn (4-2, 2-2 SEC).
Former Michigan wide receiver and 1991 Heisman Trophy Winner Desmond Howard started off the picks.
“I think that LSU, they have too much firepower,” he said. “Trey’Dez Green is supposed to play. That’s going to really induce their offense with a lot of energy, so I’m going with the Bayou Bengals.”
Seven-time national champion LSU and Alabama head coach Nick Saban raised concerns of another SEC road game in a storied stadium.
“LSU is going to have to overcome the haunted house,” Saban said, referring to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. “That place is tough to play. It was tough to play when I was at LSU when we played there, and I don’t know if we ever won there. But I think LSU is going to overcome it today.”
The Tigers have not won a road conference game in 734 days and are 0-2on the road under head coach Lane Kiffin this season.
Former NFL All-Pro and West Virginia All-American punter and kicker Pat McAfee echoed Howard’s praise of Green. He and ex-Utah and current Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid both picked the Tigers to win a close matchup after Auburn comes down from a big upset win.
“I think LSU gets a win, but this is going to be very close,” McAfee said. “Auburn just beat Georgia. I think it’s going to be tough to go back-to-back weeks at that greatness.”
Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit finished the picks by siding with LSU.
Earlier in the show, the panel discussed the matchup between the Tigers. Herbstreit highlighted Auburn’s takeaways last week.
“They created three turnovers,” Herbstreit said. “They were plus three last week against Georgia. That’s why they won the game, and right now Sam Leavitt, he’s got to do a better job of taking care of the football.”
Leavitt’s eight interceptions this season is tied for the most in the nation. LSU’s 31-0 win over Mississippi State last week was his first game this season without an interception. Although he has pointed out that some of his turnovers have been unlucky bounces, many have been a result of poor accuracy and timing, which he has improved as the season has gone on.
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown has also had his share of ball security problems. The South Florida transfer has thrown seven interceptions this year, matching his total from all of last season through six games. He has completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,205 yards and eight touchdowns.
He has made up for his inconsistencies as a passer by making plays in the run game. Brown is Auburn’s leading rusher with 107 carries for 459 yards and five touchdowns. He had 26 carries for 115 yards and a score in the Tigers’ 27-24 win over Georgia last week.
“This dude is special at the QB position, and Golesh is making the most of getting him the rock however they can,” McAfee said.
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker has been notoriously countered by mobile quarterbacks. The Tigers momentarily put an end to that narrative by holding Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed to 10 carries for -13 yards earlier this season.
“You have to have kind of that organized pass rush,” Herbstreit said of facing Brown. “You’ve got to take this guy’s legs away from him and make him have to throw to beat you.”
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