LSU Tigers at Auburn Tigers
Saturday, 10/23/10, 3:30 PM EDT, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Auburn -5.5
Current Betting Line: Auburn -6
Opening Total: 51.5
Current Total: 52
Current Moneyline: Auburn -260 / LSU +220
LSU puts its perfect record on the line Saturday in traveling to face undefeated Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The two teams are the final remaining undefeated teams in the SEC and they are among 10 unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. “I think it will be exciting,” head coach Les Miles said. “I think it will be a great matchup. I think our defense will be looking forward to it.” The Tigers are coming off a less-than-stellar performance against McNeese State, scoring a 32-10 win, while managing 103 yards passing and no touchdowns through the air. LSU is 7-0 for the first time since 1973 and also 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1987 but are still 6 point underdogs on the college football lines for week 8. It’s also important to note that the squad is a perfect 3-0 versus ranked opponents and has a 21-11 mark against the Top 25 under Miles direction.
The Tigers are currently using a two-quarterback system with Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, but rank 10th in the conference in total offense by averaging just 328.6 yards per game. LSU has relied heavily on its running game that is fourth in the SEC by gaining 188.3 yards per contest, but the signal callers are running the 113th-ranked passing attack. LSU does bring the SEC’s top defense into this contest and has allowed its last six opponents to average just 209.8 total yards per game since the season opener versus North Carolina. It’s also common for the unit to stifle conference opponents early, giving up just 19 first quarter points in its last 10 SEC games. The team is 3-1 ATS versus the conference this season and 8-11 ATS over the last three years.
Auburn is 7-0 for the first time since 2004 and is ranked fifth nationally in all three polls. The Tigers scored 63 points last week in a win over Arkansas and the program sports an impressive 28-11 mark in its last 39 games in October. Since the 2001 season, the team has posted 15 wins over Top 10 teams and has an all-time record of 4-4 against teams ranked No. 6 in the AP poll. A big part of the team’s success this year is turnovers, especially of late, forcing 12 takeaways in its last four games for a turnover margin of plus-8. Auburn is 4-3 ATS so far during the 2010 campaign and 3-1 ATS versus conference opponents.
The Tigers pass defense has been a major concern over the course of the season, currently ranking 11th in the SEC and 108th of 120 teams, but it doesn’t figure to be tested on Saturday. “You hear defense, basically the secondary is making us weak,” safety Ikeem Means said. “We’re fed up of hearing that talk.” Certainly Auburn’s strength is on the defensive line and a rush defense that ranks 15th nationally and third in the conference. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Cameron Newton is leading the nation with 25 combined touchdowns rushing and passing, which is actually just one shy of the school’s single season record. He leads the SEC and ranks third nationally in rushing for 122.9 yards per game.
Bettors will be interested in playing LSU in this contest due to the team’s 13-5-1 ATS mark as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points. Auburn comes in with a wave of offensive momentum and is 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 games after winning by 20 or more points.
Right now Maddux Sports doesn’t have an opinion on this game, we lean towards Auburn but would like a little cheaper price which doesn’t figure to happen. While this game will be very entertaining to watch, there are much better games to wager on including our 20 unit game of the year pick which goes Saturday. It has been a marvelous college football season for followers of Maddux Sports and we expect to continue the winning this weekend. Dont miss any more winners for the best sports handicappers on the Internet today.
