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Auburn-LSU Preview Capsule

In October of 2011, Haughton and Parkway high schools squared off in a football game. Your team hasn’t won in Death Valley since 1999. End Tashawn Bower and tackle Christian LaCouture each recorded one quarterback-hurry. LSU Coach Les Miles said safety Jalen Mills (ankle) is getting better, but he declined to give a timeline for his return, saying it would only be a guess. Harris has come a long way from the rattled 18-year old that completed just 3-of-14 passes when the two teams met a year ago.

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Countess, a cornerback, and Carter, a linebacker, are eligible to play this week since they were ejected in the first half of their games.

Auburn has been gashed for 199.5 yards per game rushing in its first two games, while LSU piled up 266 yards in ground gains in its season opener last Saturday at Mississippi State. LSU will look to cause havoc for Johnson and the Auburn offense, they’ll move to 2-0 with a win in this one. I have seen some very good teams lose games they had no business losing for the exact same reasons. Johnson, again, has been shaky despite nary a hand touching him; he is also not what you would call a running threat. Not a one. Auburn’s Johnson was widely predicted to breakout this season, his first as a starter. Auburn became the first FBS team to ever play beyond regulation against an FCS team and seemed fortunate to squeak out a victory. That player was 20 pounds lighter than this one. 4 percent of his passes for 373 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Prescott, who was limited to nine yards on seven running plays, struggled to move the offense with anything other than short passes.

I will not be available to do my usual play by play in the comments, but I will review the game as soon as I can, and write some commentary and grades at that point.

“Sometimes I don’t think people remember who I am, and it’s going to be less and less every year”, Byrd said. “But we’re past it, and I’m looking forward to this weekend”.

He’s got experience to draw on. Johnson is an excellent talent that will sort out his issues eventually, but it doesn’t figure to happen overnight, especially on the road against LSU’s defense.

Harris has a chance to extend a streak.

The Auburn Tigers and LSU Tigers renew their rivalry Saturday in Baton Rouge.

If the Owls upend Notre Dame on Halloween and are unbeaten, their toughest challenge in the final four regular-season games likely will come from Memphis, which beat Temple, 16-13, on a last-second field goal in 2014. In his second career start, Harris ran for 48 yards on just five carries against Mississippi State on Saturday. More importantly: He had zero glaring mistakes – no interceptions, no busted plays, no fumbled snaps, no outrageous misfires.

Malzahn told reporters that an MRI revealed that Holsey, a senior, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. He listens all the time to what everybody says. Very talented young man. … Harris was just 3-of-12 passing by halftime, and Auburn led 31-7.

Harris feels it, too.

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For the most part, Boutte and Clapp performed well against Mississippi State, Miles said. “His game readiness, in terms of all of the things a quarterback has to do, he’s more prepared”.

Chris Graythen  Getty Images