SEC & Big Ten Week 9 Preview: Two Top-10 Tigers Tango in Death Valley

No. 9 Auburn (6-1) at No. 2 LSU (7-0) at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

One of the nation’s best offenses will clash with one of the country’s top defenses as Auburn travels to Death Valley to face off against LSU in a Top-10 SEC matchup Saturday afternoon.

Although LSU has defeated Auburn in each of the last nine matchups in Baton Rouge, 10 of the past 15 meetings in the series have been decided by seven points or less. Further, the past three have been decided by a total of 11 points.

Saturday’s matchup will also be the fifth all-time matchup of Top 10 teams in the Auburn-LSU series, with the other matchups coming in 1972, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The two programs have split those top-10 tilts 2-2.

Now let’s take a closer look at the teams:

Auburn Quick Hits:

• This will be the 10th time Auburn has faced the nation’s No. 1 or No. 2-ranked team during the Gus Malzahn era.
• The Tigers are 3-6 in the previous nine games against teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2.
• Auburn is one of 10 FBS teams that hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in a game this season.
• The Tigers defense has held four of its first seven opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing.
• Click here for Auburn’s complete game notes.
• Click here for the Tigers’ Week 9 depth chart.

LSU Quick Hits

• This will be the third time the Tigers have faced a Top 10 opponent this year.
• LSU is 6-1 in its last seven games against Top 10 ranked teams.
• LSU is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 2015 and the fourth time since 2010.
• LSU leads the SEC and ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense (50.1), passing offense (385.7), and pass efficiency (204.3 rating).
• The Tigers offense has scored 351 points through seven games for the most points scored in the first seven of a game in school history.
• Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the nation in passing TDs (29).
• Click here for LSU’s complete game notes.
• Click here for Tigers’ Week 9 depth chart.

Here’s a quick look at a few more games we’ll have our eyes on this weekend in the SEC and Big Ten:

No. 13 Wisconsin (6-1) at No 3. Ohio State (7-0) at Noon on FOX

Wisconsin and Ohio State rank first and second in the FBS, respectively, in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense.

No. 20 Iowa (5-2) at Northwestern (1-5) at Noon on ESPN2

The Hawkeyes are allowing 11.6 points per game, the lowest total during Kirk Ferentz’s time at Iowa and the lowest by any Hawkeye team since 1965 (9.2).

Illinois (3-4) at Purdue (2-5) at Noon on BTN

Illinois and Purdue will play the Battle for the Cannon this Saturday. The Boilermakers have taken the trophy home each of the past three years.

No. 6 Penn State (7-0) at Michigan State (4-3) at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Penn State is one of three FBS teams (LSU and Oklahoma) to have a winning record each of the past 15 years.

Maryland (3-4) at No. 17 Minnesota (7-0) at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

Minnesota has won nine straight games, fourth longest winning streak in the nation behind Clemson (22), Ohio State (13) and Appalachian State (12).

Indiana (5-2) at Nebraska (4-3) at 3:30 p.m. on SECN

Indiana will be making its first visit to Lincoln since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.

No. 8 Notre Dame (5-1) at No. 19 Michigan (5-2) at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

The Irish have a two-game winning streak against the Wolverines after winning home games in 2014 and 2018, but Michigan has won four straight match-ups against Notre Dame at the Big House (2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013).

Mississippi State (3-4) at Texas A&M (4-3) at Noon on SECN

Texas A&M has lost three straight to the Bulldogs, who lead the all-time series with the Aggies 7-5.

South Carolina (3-4) at Tennessee (2-5) at 4 p.m. on SECN

Each of the past seven contests between these two teams has been decided by six points or less, and by a total of 23 points overall.

Arkansas (2-5) at No. 1 Alabama (7-0) at 7 p.m.  on ESPN

The Crimson Tide have defeated 88 consecutive unranked teams under head coach Nick Saban, the longest streak in FBS history.

Missouri (5-2) at Kentucky (3-4) at 7:30 p.m. on SECN

Kentucky has won four straight against the Tigers, while Mizzou leads the nation with five defensive touchdowns this season. Overall, Mizzou has converted each of its last 13 interceptions into touchdowns, including four pick-sixes.