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LSU-Auburn preview

LSU’s receiving statistics from its game against Mississippi State last week wouldn’t have caused a blink of an eye at schools with high-powered passing attacks.

In the 23-20 victory against the Bulldogs, Tigers wide receivers finished with 11 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown. Three wide receivers – Malachi Dupre (four), Travin Dural (four) and D.J. Chark (3) – made at least three catches.

Only three times in 2015 did LSU wide receivers combine for more than nine pass receptions – Ole Miss (15), Arkansas (15) and South Carolina (12). The Tigers won just one of those three games – against the Gamecocks. So, rarely in recent years, have the wide receivers had such production in a victory.

The last time three LSU wide receivers made at least three catches in a game occurred in 2014. Dupre, Dural and Trey Quinn each caught three passes against New Mexico State.

It had been three seasons since three Tigers wide receivers made at least three catches against a Southeastern Conference opponent. In the 2013 game at Ole Miss, Jarvis Landry had a team-high seven receptions, while Odell Beckham had five catches and Kadron Boone had three.

So, understand that it was a big step for the LSU passing game with Danny Etling at quarterback last Saturday against Mississippi State. The Tigers could use a repeat outing from their receivers in Saturday’s game at Auburn (5 p.m. Central/ESPN).

“Last week was just a glimpse of what (receivers) can do,” Dural said. “We can do more. We didn’t execute well in the second half. Receiver-wise, we didn’t hit our depth and we got jammed up at the line. That got our timing messed up.

“If we get open, we will make a bigger window for Danny. Then, we need to make the contested catch. We did learn from last game that if we execute, we can move the ball.”

Dural and Dupre were expected to be one of the top receiving duos in the SEC. However, their combined total in the first three games is not at the needed level. Dural has made a team-high 10 catches, but for only 95 yards.

Dupre has caught just seven passes for 78 yards. In the first two games, Dupre was targeted 16 times with only three receptions. He had four drops in the first two games. Dupre lined up more in the slot against Mississippi State in order to get away from press coverage. That change helped Dupre.

“You don’t get pressed in the slot,” Dural said. “You can get some free releases. I wouldn’t mind getting a couple. Malachi was completely different after he made the first catch Saturday. He was always a guy who is happy and smiles a lot.

“I know how it feels when you are dropping balls, especially at this time when we were trying to get our passing game going. After Saturday’s game, Malachi is back to being the same guy running around and joking around at practice. We are going to need him this weekend.”

SEVEN QUICK NOTES ABOUT LSU

1. Beginning with the 2000 season, LSU has lost six of its last eight games at Auburn. However, LSU has split the past four meetings at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Since Les Miles became coach, LSU has a 2-3 record at Auburn. Miles is undefeated against Auburn in Tiger Stadium.

2. Under Miles, LSU has won its first SEC road game on eight occasions. The three defeats came at Auburn in 2006 and 2014 and at Georgia in 2013. Five of the SEC road-opener victories occurred at Mississippi State. Two victories came at Auburn and one at Vanderbilt.

3. Saturday’s game will be the final one in September for LSU. The last time LSU came out of September with two losses was 2000. In Nick Saban’s first season as coach, LSU was beaten by Auburn and UAB before the calendar reached October.

4. The LSU defense has not allowed a point in the first quarter this season. In addition, opposing offenses have converted just 24 percent of their third-down situations (11-of-46). LSU is second in the SEC in this defensive category.

5. Miles is one victory away from tying Charlie McClendon for victories by a LSU coach against a SEC opponent. Miles has won 64 games – 62 in the regular season and two in the postseason – against SEC teams.

6. Leonard Fournette recorded his 17th 100-yard rushing game last week against Mississippi State. Only three LSU backs have more 100-yard rushing games in their careers – Kevin Faulk (22), Charles Alexander (20) and Dalton Hilliard (19).

7. Center Ethan Pocic continues to lead the offensive linemen in knockdown blocks with 23. Both K.J. Malone and Will Clapp have registered 15 knockdown blocks. Toby Weathersby and Josh Boutte are the only linemen who have allowed sacks.

SEVEN QUICK NOTES ABOUT AUBURN

1. Auburn has lost its last seven games against a Power 5 conference team at Jordan-Hare Stadium – Texas A&M in 2014; Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama in 2015 and Clemson and Texas A&M in 2016. Five of the seven losses were by eight points or less.

2. Auburn is No. 1 in the SEC in rushing offense with 261.7 yards per game. Auburn is fifth in the conference in total offense with 455.7 yards per game. Running back Kerryon Johnson has four rushing touchdowns – more than any SEC back.

3. Wide receiver Tony Stevens has caught 13 passes with 10 resulting in a first down or a touchdown. Stevens is one reception shy of having his most in season. Stevens caught 14 passes in 2015.

4. Backup running back Kamryn Pettway is averaging more than ten yards per attempt on first down. Pettway has gained 212 yards on 21 first-down carries. Overall, Pettway is averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. Both Pettway and Johnson are in the top ten in rushing in the SEC.

5. Auburn has one of the most accurate field-goal kickers in SEC history in Daniel Carlson. In his career, Carlson has made 83 percent of his field goal attempts (47-of-57) – the sixth highest rate in the conference. Carlson has missed just one of his last 24 field-goal tries.

6. Two Auburn defenders have recorded more than 100 tackles in their careers. Nickel back Johnathan Ford has been credited with 237 tackles, while defensive tackle Montravius Adams has made 114 stops. Ford is ninth on the all-time Auburn list for tackles going back to the 2004 season.

7. Quarterback Sean White will be making his 10th career start in 11 games Saturday against LSU. In his career, White has completed 60 percent of his passes (128-of-214) for nearly 1,700 yards and four touchdowns with five interceptions.

PREDICTION

Two of the SEC’s coaches who are on the hot seat will be on the sidelines at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday evening. LSU’s Les Miles began September with a team ranked among the top five in the country. A loss at Auburn will drop LSU out of the rankings and put Miles in a situation where he may not be the coach by the end of the season. Auburn’s Gus Malzahn has watched his teams drop seven straight games at home against power conference teams – six to SEC squads. Malzahn has a longer rope than Miles since he can probably keep his job with a seven-victory regular season. However, a third home loss in September would make that task extremely challenging. There is no doubt that Auburn will be a desperate home team Saturday. LSU will get Auburn’s best shot like Clemson received in the season opener. Like Clemson, LSU will do just enough to escape The Plains with a victory.

LSU 19, AUBURN 17


TEAM STATS COMPARISON

LSU points per game: 23.7

Auburn opponents’ points per game: 20.7

LSU rushing yards per game: 182.3

Auburn opponents’ rushing yards per game: 149.3

LSU passing yards per game: 157.7

Auburn opponents’ passing yards per game: 251.7

LSU total yards per game: 340.0

Auburn opponents’ total yards per game: 401.0

LSU passing completion percentage: 54.2

Auburn opponents’ pass completion percentage: 55.8

LSU sacks allowed: 3

Auburn sacks: 5

Auburn points per game: 26.7

LSU opponents’ points per game: 16.3

Auburn rushing yards per game: 261.7

LSU opponents’ rushing yards per game: 103.3

Auburn passing yards per game: 194.0

LSU opponents’ passing yards per game: 222.3

Auburn total yards per game: 455.7

LSU opponents’ total yards per game: 325.7

Auburn passing completion percentage: 61.4

LSU opponents’ pass completion percentage: 54.1

Auburn sacks allowed: 9

LSU sacks: 11

LSU turnover margin: -1

Auburn turnover margin: -3

INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS

Rushing

LSU: Leonard Fournette – 51 carries, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns

Auburn: Kerryon Johnson – 56 carries, 278 yards, 4 touchdowns

Passing

LSU: Danny Etling – 44 attempts, 25 completions, 57 percent, 315 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

Auburn: Sean White – 71 attempts, 45 completions, 63 percent, 510 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception

Receiving

LSU: Travin Dural – 10 catches, 95 yards, 1 touchdown

Auburn: Tony Stevens – 13 catches, 177 yards, 2 touchdowns

Tackles

LSU: Kendell Beckwith – 24

Auburn: Johnathan Ford (NB) – 21

Tackles-for-loss

LSU: Arden Key – 5½

Auburn: Johnathan Ford (NB) – 2

Sacks

LSU: Arden Key – 5

Auburn: Montravius Adams (DT), Marlon Davidson (DE), Carl Lawson (DE), Tre Williams (LB) – 1

Quarterback-hurries

LSU: Arden Key – 3

Auburn: Montravius Adams (DT), Carl Lawson (DE) – 5

Interceptions

LSU: Donte Jackson, Rickey Jefferson, Tre’Davious White – 1

Auburn: Joshua Holsey (CB) – 1

Pass breakups

LSU: Donte Jackson – 4

Auburn: Carlton Davis (CB), Javaris Davis (CB), Joshua Holsey (CB), Nick Ruffin (S) – 2

Punting

LSU: Josh Growden – 16 punts, 39.8-yard average

Auburn: Kevin Phillips – 12 punts, 41.8-yard average

Kicking

LSU: Colby Delahoussaye – 1-of-1 FGs, 8-of-10 XPs

Auburn: Daniel Carlson – 6-of-6, FGs; 8-of-8 XPs

Kickoff returns

LSU: Derrius Guice – 5 returns, 104 yards

Auburn: Johnathan Ford – 4 returns, 55 yards

Punt returns

LSU: Tre’Davious White: 6 returns, 71 yards, 1 touchdown

Auburn: Marcus Davis – 2 returns, 14 yards

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