Week Four SEC Predictions

Last week's predictions were 10-2, overall they are 29-6. This week, Auburn welcomes LSU to the Plains in a 6:00 pm CT televised game by ESPN. Other SEC games include Vandy at Georgia and Kentucky at Florida.

LSU at Auburn, 6:00 pm CT, ESPN

Auburn and LSU square off Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN. LSU leads the overall series 25–20–1, with four wins in the past five meetings. Auburn leads in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium 10-6. The home team has won 11 of the past 12 meetings.

LSU enters the contest ranked No. 2 with an overall record of 3-0. The three victories were all played in Baton Rouge against North Texas, Washington and Idaho.

Overall, LSU is a very balanced team with a stingy defense and a strong running game behind Kenny Hillard. Hillard has scored six touchdowns and averages 8.2 yards per carry. The sophomore has 303 yards on 37 carries.

LSU ranks 31st nationally in offense averaging 269.3 rushing yards, 203 passing yards and an SEC-leading 48.3 points per game.

Quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been steady under center throwing for 609 yards, four touchdowns and two picks. Against Idaho, Mettenberger completed 17-of-22 for 222 yards with two touchdown passes.

Receiver Russell Shepard had three catches last weekend for 68 yards and rushed three times for 24 more. Receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. is a versatile player who also handles punts and kick returns. On the season, Beckham has nine catches for 143 yards, and a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Despite being without Tyrann Mathieu, LSU's defense ranks fourth nationally and leads the SEC by allowing just 205.0 yards per game. Mathieu’s replacement, Jalen Mills, has a pair of interceptions and Ronald Martin had two picks in last Saturday's 63-14 thrashing of Idaho.

Auburn earned its first victory of the season, 31-28 in overtime against Louisiana-Monroe. Cody Parkey's 35-yard field goal gave Auburn a much needed win before playing LSU this weekend and Arkansas in two weeks. Parkey's game-winning field goal earned him the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Parkey is 6-for-6 on field goals for the season.

Against ULM, quarterback Kiehl Frazier showed more promise in his third-career start by completing 10-of-18 passes for 130 yards and a 33-yard touchdown to Sammie Coates. Frazier struggled a bit in the second half by attempting just six passes, completing one 16-yarder.

The Tigers rank 9th in the SEC and 57th nationally with 175.3 rushing yards per game. The Tigers racked up 255 yards on the ground Saturday thanks to Onterio McCalebb and Tre Mason. McCalebb rushed for 128 yards on 11 carries and had a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Auburn ranks 13th in the SEC and 94th nationally in total defense after allowing more than 400 yards in two of its three games.

The Tigers allowed ULM's offense to run 89 plays and convert 9-of-21 third downs and 3-of-4 fourth downs. The defense was gassed by the fourth quarter which resulted in ULM sticking around and forcing the contest into overtime. Two huge plays that helped the Tigers escape with a victory were two blocked field goals, one by Corey Lemonier in regulation and the other when Angelo Blackson got his fingertips on a 37-yard try in overtime.

After three games, Auburn has shown slight improvement on both offense and defense. If Frazier can continue to complete short, safe passes, he will continue to gain confidence as the season goes along. Tackling was a bit better by the defense last Saturday but the problem may resurface again this weekend against a bigger, more talented LSU team. While the series against LSU has seen some close contests in recent years, this one may be over by halftime.

Prediction: LSU 38-6.



Ole Miss at Tulane, 11:00 am CT, FSN

Prediction: Ole Miss 24-10.



Kentucky at Florida, 11:21 am CT, SEC Network

Prediction: Florida 40-13.



Missouri at South Carolina, 2:30 pm CT, CBS

Prediction: South Carolina 26-9.



Florida Atlantic at Alabama, 3:00 pm CT, PPV

Prediction: Alabama 55-3.



Rutgers at Arkansas, 6:00 pm CT, ESPNU

Prediction: Arkansas 21-17.



South Alabama at Mississippi St., 6:00 pm CT, TBD

Prediction: MSU 34-7.



S.C. State at Texas A&M, 6:00 pm CT, FSN

Prediction: Texas A&M 35-7.



Akron at Tennessee, 6:30 pm CT, CSS

Prediction: Tennessee 45-13.



Vanderbilt at Georgia, 6:45 pm CT, ESPN2

Prediction: Georgia 40-17.

 Share