No. 22 Auburn (3-1, 0-0 SEC) at LSU (3-1, 1-0), Saturday at 9 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Line: LSU by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: LSU leads 31-23-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Auburn would likely drop out of the Top 25 with a second loss early in the season. LSU could get back in the rankings for the first time since losing to UCLA in Week 1 if it can win its second in as many SEC games.
KEY MATCHUP
LSU’s pass rush, which leads the nation in sacks with 20, against a shaky Auburn passing game that has led to a QB controversy involving Bo Nix and TJ Finley, the latter having transferred to Auburn last offseason from LSU.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Auburn: Sophomore RB Tank Bigsby has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in three of Auburn’s first four games and ranks third in the SEC at 100.8 yards per game while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
LSU: Sophomore WR Kayshon Boutte leads the Tigers with 24 receptions for 309 yards and leads the nation with eight TDs receiving.
FACTS & FIGURES
Of the teams’ 25 meetings in Baton Rouge, LSU has won 19, Auburn has won five and they tied once. … The home team has won 18 of the last 21 meetings, and LSU has won the last 10 meetings in Death Valley. … Last year, Auburn beat LSU 48-11 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, scoring the most points in the series by either team. The 37-point margin of victory also was the largest ever for Auburn in the series. … The Auburn and LSU defenses each have averaged 10 1/2 tackles for loss per game. … Auburn’s Nehemiah Pritchett ranks second in the SEC and sixth nationally in kick return average at 33 yards. … LSU sophomore QB Max Johnson, son of former NFL QB Brad Johnson, is 5-1 as LSU’s starting QB with his lone loss coming at UCLA this season. … Johnson’s 15 TDs passing leads the SEC and ranks No. 2 nationally. … Boutte’s TD passes in six straight games ties for the second-longest streak in LSU history, one behind Jarvis Landry and Dwayne Bowe. … LSU DE BJ Ojulari leads the SEC and ranks seventh nationally in sacks with 4 1/2.
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