Both LSU and the Saints seem to be finally getting on track
after roller coaster starts to each of their respective seasons. Can they keep
their winning ways alive on the road this weekend?
After a pair of home wins, both the Tigers and Saints are
hitting the road for crucial away games this weekend.
Coming off a 52-24 drubbing of South Carolina, LSU is
looking for their first winning streak of the season as they battle one of their
fiercest rivals in Auburn.
Everything seemed to go right for LSU against the Gamecocks
last Saturday: Freshman quarterback TJ Finley had a spectacularly efficient
debut under center, the running game finally got its mojo back, the defense
didn't give up (too) many big plays, and the Tigers nabbed two non-offensive
touchdowns to blast the game open.
Meanwhile, in the Superdome, the Saints, never ones to make
it easy on themselves, overcame the absence of receivers Michael Thomas and
Emmanuel Sanders to beat a frisky Carolina squad, surviving a near
record-breaking field goal to scrape out their third straight win with a 27-24
victory.
Both LSU (2-2) and New Orleans (4-2) seem to be finally
getting on track after rollercoaster starts to each of their respective
seasons. Can they keep their winning ways alive on the road this weekend?
LSU at Auburn
Where to Watch: Saturday, October 31, at 2:30 p.m. on CBS
The TJ Finley era will likely continue this weekend at
Auburn. Starting quarterback Myles Brennan is still recovering from a partially
torn abdominal muscle injury, and Coach Ed Orgeron does
not expect him to play.
Fortunately for LSU, Finley proved an adept backup option
last weekend, shining in his collegiate debut. The freshman quarterback threw
for an efficient 17-of-21, 265 yards, and two touchdowns and added another
score on the ground.
Finley looked like a poised veteran on the field, guiding
the Tigers on lengthy drives, throwing darts around to several receivers, and
shaking off, with ease, what few mistakes he made.
The rest of the Tiger offense executed their most complete
game of the season, taking the pressure off Finley by rushing for 276 yards,
nearly as many yards as the previous three games combined. The defense kept
South Carolina out of the endzone more times than not and added a pick six of
their own, while Trey Palmer returned LSU's first kickoff return for a
touchdown since 1981, in the third quarter, to help put the game out of reach.
Anytime LSU gets two non-offensive touchdowns, they're
having a great game.
The Tigers will try to capture their third win of the season
against Auburn (3-2) this Saturday in what has become a pivotal game of the
2020 campaign. An LSU win means a 3-2 record heading into a bye week before
Alabama comes to town in mid-November. A loss could be devastating to LSU's
hopes of achieving a winning record this year.
The annual battle against Auburn seems to always come down
to the wire, with LSU winning the last three contests by four points or less.
Auburn is living on a prayer this season, having won two of
the last three games on
controversial late game no-calls.
The Barners are led by sophomore quarterback Bo Nix, whose
topsy-turvy season is likely taking years off of Auburn fans' lives. Nix
started out the season strong, with a 233-yard, three-touchdown performance in
a victory over Kentucky. Since then, he's thrown just three touchdowns in
Auburn's last four games and has been intercepted four times, including three
against South Carolina. Nix is coming off arguably his most complete game of
the season last week, completing over 76 percent of his passes for 238 yards
and two total touchdowns. Auburn supporters know all too well, however, that you
can never predict which Bo Nix will show up on any given Saturday.
Lately, the Tigers have ridden the hot hand of freshman
running back Tank Bigsby. After rushing for just 46 yards in Auburn's first two
games, Bigsby has begun to bulldoze opposing defenses, averaging over 128 yards
and a touchdown in their last three contests.
Wide receiver Seth Williams is Auburn's most dangerous pass-catching
threat. Williams has 24 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns. He's joined
by Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove, who have combined for 436 yards, 50
receptions, and three touchdowns this year.
The Auburn offense has big play ability but can't always
execute effectively. Defensively, LSU still has plenty to prove, but if the
Tigers can rattle Nix early, it could be a long day for the sophomore
quarterback.
Defensively, this is not the vaunted unit the SEC is
accustomed to facing. Auburn is giving up an average of 400 yards and over 25
points per game to opponents. LSU's high-powered offense is averaging over 485
yards and 42 points per game. Something's got to give.
Look for Auburn linebackers Zakoby McClain and Owen Pappoe
to try and stifle LSU's emerging running game and make life much more
uncomfortable for TJ Finley in his second start. In the secondary, defensive
back Roger McCreary will try to slow down LSU receiver Terrace Marshall and the
bevy of targets the Tigers spread the ball to each game.
LSU is 7-7-1 all-time in Halloween games, but the Tigers
don't need any tricks to pick up a treat against Auburn. Play complete, team
football, limit the big plays on defense. And run. The. Ball.
Prediction: LSU 27, Auburn 23
Saints at Chicago Bears
Where to Watch: Sunday, November 1, at 3:25 p.m. on FOX
Survive and advance. That's the name of the game right now
for Drew Brees and the Saints, who are riding a three-game winning streak with
some razor-thin victories as they keep stacking Ws, trying to keep pace with
Tampa Bay atop the NFC South.
After playing all of their games indoors this year, New
Orleans heads up to Chicago this Sunday for their chilliest game of the season,
where temperatures are expected to be in the mid-to-high 30s all game.
Brees is coming off one of his best games of the season,
completing over 80 percent of his passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns,
without receivers Michael Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders, against the Panthers.
Sanders, who tested positive for COVID prior to last week's game, will miss his
second consecutive game.
As for Thomas, at this point, who knows? Injury and
suspension have kept the star receiver sidelined since week one, and although
he returned to practice late this week, I'll believe he's playing when I see it.
Hopefully, I see it, because Thomas's return would be a massive boost for the
Saints offense.
If Thomas can't go, it's up to running back Alvin Kamara to
continue his offensive wizardry. Kamara leads the Saints in rushing and
receiving through six games, but the rest of New Orleans's offensive supporting
cast has answered the call in the absence of Thomas and Sanders. Expect to see
receivers Tre'Quan Smith or Marquez Callaway have solid games with a solid dose
of running back Latavius Murray, tight end Jared Cook, and do-it-all offensive
weapon Taysom Hill adding a dash of pizazz at some point.
The Bears (5-2) have one of the better defenses in the NFL,
and their five wins have come largely thanks to defensive prowess, not
offensive fireworks.
Nick Foles took over the quarterback job from Mitch Trubisky
mid-season and has since tossed six touchdowns and six interceptions. He's a
mediocre quarterback who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career,
but that hasn't been the case as much this season.
It's a great matchup for the struggling Saints secondary,
who have given up the most passing touchdowns in the NFL so far this year.
Despite the plethora of touchdowns, the Saints' passing defense still ranks
near the middle of the pack in the league.
Plenty of those passing touchdowns have gone to tight ends,
as the Saints have allowed opposing tight ends to score in every game this
season. Unfortunately for New Orleans, former Saint Jimmy Graham is the
opposing tight end this week, and he leads the Bears in touchdown catches with
four.
Another intriguing matchup to watch is Chicago's star
receiver Allen Robinson II against New Orleans's cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
With 70 catches for over 540 yards and two touchdowns, Robinson has big play
potential—when Foles can actually get him the ball.
Chicago has struggled to get its running game going this
season. Running back David Montgomery has rushed for over 50 yards just three
times, capping out at 82 yards in week two. Montgomery scored the lone rushing
touchdown by a Bears running back three weeks ago, with Foles recording the
team's only other score on the ground.
This should have the fourth-ranked Saints' rushing defense
licking their chops. Limit Chicago's subpar rushing attack and force Foles to
beat you with his arm. Cam Jordan and the Saints front seven have to like those
odds.
Sunday's game has all the makings of a cold, ugly,
grind-it-out contest between two NFC playoff hopefuls. Weather, and Foles's
ineptitude, could keep this game a low-scoring affair, but the Saints should
have just enough offensive firepower to capture their fourth straight. And if
Thomas suits up, watch out.
Prediction: Saints 21, Bears 17
Andrew Alexander is a contributing writer, football fan,
and unofficial president of the Arch Manning Fan Club. Follow him on Twitter at @TheOtherAA
and listen to the Krewe du
Drew podcast.
