Fun-time is over

It was a fun three-week run while it lasted for LSU.

The Tigers got a tune-up game with North Texas, feasted on a middle of the road Pac 12 team in Washington and last week, they got their taste of WAC football in putting up 63 against Idaho.

Now, fun-time is over. It's time to get back to the nitty-gritty--the treacherous and trying gauntlet that is the SEC.

LSU will go on the road this Saturday night to face an Auburn team fresh off of their first win of the season--an overtime victory over a game UL-Monroe squad.

On paper. the game looks like a distinct mismatch in favor of LSU, but things are never that cut and dry in the SEC.

Auburn has been a pillar of mediocrity these first three weeks but to their credit, they have played a pretty challenging schedule.

They had to open the season in the Georgia Dome against then No. 14 Clemson, a game they lost 26-19.

Following the narrow defeat, they had to make a road trip to Starkville to play a much-imporoved, undefeated Mississippi State squad. They were pounded 28-10.

And last week, they escaped with an overtime victory against a UL-Monroe squad fresh off of a huge upset win over then No. 8 Arkansas.

The thing that has given Auburn the most trouble is their sputtering offense.

They are only averaging 20 points a game and though their rushing attack has been solid, they rank No. 113 in passing offense.

That's squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Kyle Frazier. He is only completing 51 percent of his passes and has thrown five interceptions to just two touchdowns.

Look for LSU to load up the box to shut down Tre Mason and Onterio McCalebb on the ground to force Frazier to throw it downfield.

And offensively, look for the Tigers to try to run at Auburn early and often. The War Eagles have given up at least 165 yards rushing in all three of their games this year. In fact, Andre Ellington of Clemson ran for 228 yards by himself against Auburn in week one.

It'll be interesting to see how Zach Mettenberger plays in his first road start. He'll certainly have to improve his decision-making. Both interceptions he has thrown this year were at the goal line as the Tigers were going in for a score.

Though the stats tell a different story, LSU can't just write off Auburn. With the exception of last year, the War Eagles always play the Tigers tough.

In fact, only three games between the two schools have been decided by more than seven points in the past 10 years.

And Jordan-Hare Stadium has been a house of horrors for LSU. They've only won there three time in the last 20 years. The most recent win was a 26-21 come-from-behind victory in 2008.

The Tigers hope to survive the hostile environment, collect their first SEC win of the season and build on their current nine-game regular season conference winning streak.