09/19 at 11:46 PM

OK, first, the stats.

You know them. You’ve memorized them. But, here they are again.

When Auburn and LSU meet, the record books shudder. It’s just the way it is.

* Eleven out of the last 18 games between the two teams have been decided by a touchdown or less.

* The home team has won the last eight meetings since Auburn won in Baton Rouge in 1999.

* LSU has not rushed for a touchdown against Auburn since 2003.

* LSU is the defending national champion.

* LSU is ranked sixth. Auburn is ranked 10th.

And the biggest stat ...

* The winner of the Auburn-LSU game has represented the SEC West in the conference championship game six out of the last eight years.

Whew.

Now the reality.

* Throw the stats out the window.

* Hide the women and children.

* Keep the meek at home.

“It’s a war,” Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said.

Especially this year. Especially with these two defenses. More stats: Auburn leads the SEC and is third nationally in scoring defense (5.0 points per game). LSU is 10th nationally in the same category (8.0). LSU is fifth across the country in rushing defense (48 yards
per game), while AU is ninth (53). Auburn is 10th in total defense, allowing 213.7 yards per contest, while LSU is 12th (219.0).

“Both of us build our defense on speed and being very physical,” Tuberville said. “This is always a very physical game.”

Always. Ask anyone.

“I would say one of the most physical, violent games you play,” Auburn junior linebacker Tray Blackmon said.

It’s also one of the biggest. Sure, Alabama is Auburn’s No. 1 rival, but the LSU game means more to the big picture.

“This LSU game has become the rivalry of the Western Division,” said former Auburn quarterback Ben Leard, who played on the last team to win on the road in this series. “As far as implications go, this is hands down the biggest game of the year.”

Just look at the stats.

And then, look at the faces of the guys who play in it.

“This is what I came to Auburn for,” AU defensive end Antonio Coleman said. “This is what I wake up for, these types of games. I love challenges.

“I’ve been thinking about that since last year. That’s the key every year. If you beat LSU, you are in the driver’s seat getting to the SEC Championship and, hopefully, the national championship. That’s the key. If we want to go to those places, we have to come out and do our job.”

And the job will be tough today, as Auburn’s new spread offense has yet to take off. Auburn ranks in the SEC’s bottom three in scoring offense, passing offense, pass efficiency, third-down conversions, penalties and red-zone offense.

And against LSU’s vaunted defense, that doesn’t bode well for Auburn.

But there’s something to be said for home-field advantage, especially in this series (again, look at the stats). There’s also something to be said for Auburn in big-game situations.

With ESPN’s College GameDay in town for the first time since the 2006 Florida game, the atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be even more electric than usual.

Throw in the fact that Auburn has won nine of its last 12 games against top-10 teams — including six in a row at home — and is 15-2 at home in night games since 2000 (4-0 against nationally ranked opponents) and the “X” factor is in AU’s favor.

But will all that really matter tonight? Maybe. Maybe not.

But one thing’s for sure: This is the game of the year.

“This is what you live for” said quarterback Chris Todd, who will be making his first start in this series. “It’s what you dream about. This will be fun. It’ll be a great atmosphere and I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it.”

And then there’s this ...

“If you don’t get excited for this week then you need to go home,” senior right tackle Jason Bosley said. “That’s the bottom line.”

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at or 737-2513.