Thursday, October 21, 2010

SEC Football Blogger

Auburn vs. LSU Prediction Pick, 2010

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:51 PM PDT

Auburn vs. LSU Prediction Pick, 2010

Anyone who claims to have a legitimate answer on how this game is going to go is lying to you. This is a mesh of styles. Auburn is one of the truly great run games of this season. LSU? An ace run-stuffing team. Auburn cannot stop the pass by any stretch. Which would be a problem if LSU could throw the ball.

Seriously, 103 yards against McNeese State? That’s unfathomable. Especially when you consider the length of time LSU let McNeese hang around. So yeah. That allows me to sufficiently cop out. This is going to be a game that’s built on X-Factor. Let’s tick it off.

X-Factor #1: Field position.

LSU’s been able to pin teams deep on their own side of the field consistently. If this continues, LSU will be able to have short fields. If LSU is going to stay with Auburn? This is going to be an imperative. Auburn may be willing to slow down Malzahn ball if they can face a team that can run on them.

A short field makes Les Miles’ job a whole lot easier.

X-Factor #2: Nick Fairley vs. PJ Lonergan and T-Bob Hebert

He’s been a stopper in the middle of Auburn’s defense this year. One could consider that he rung Mallett’s bell and ended Arkansas run as an SEC West contender. If Steven Ridley is to be untracked, Nick Fairley needs to be stopped. Whoever wins this battle wins the game.

X-Factor #3: Jarrett Lee

Because the fact of the matter is that for all Jordan Jefferson’s athleticism, he cannot throw the ball. Gary Crowton’s not a master playcaller by any stretch. But Jarrett Lee cannot be “Mr. Pick 6″ if LSU is going to have any shot to win. Auburn’s secondary is eminently beatable.

X-Factor #4: The no-huddle.

The only time you’ve really seen LSU on its heels was when they had to face UNC throwing the ball around the field. A no-huddle offense isn’t exactly the same as a team like Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, or the Steve Addazio’s 3 yard dive energy trio. I think Auburn’s gonna get their points because of it.

That being said?

Les Miles is going to cobble together 24 points, and Les Miles is going to have the ball for the final possession of the game. One of two things is going to happen. The Les Miles school of clock management will strike again or there will be a reverse pass from Russell Sheppard for 6.

*Flips a coin*

Auburn 28, LSU 24

http://secfb.neswblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Cameron-Newton.jpg