LSU-Auburn Preview Capsule

No. 18 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC) at Auburn (1-2, 0-1), 6 p.m. (ESPN).

Line: LSU by 3.

Series Record: LSU leads 28-21-1

WHAT'S AT STAKE

LSU is trying to remain in SEC West contention while Auburn is hoping to turn the season around. Both coaches, LSU's Les Miles and Auburn's Gus Malzahn, have come under fire from fans and a win here would take some of the heat off - for now, at least.

KEY MATCHUP

Auburn's defense against LSU RB Leonard Fournette. Fournette chewed up the Auburn defense for 228 yards, a number of broken tackles and three touchdowns last season. Auburn's defensive strength comes on a front line led by DT Montravius Adams.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LSU: DE Arden Key leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with five sacks and faces an offense that ranks last among the 128 FBS teams in tackles for loss allowed.

Auburn: RB Kamryn Pettway is a 6-foot, 240-pounder who has run for 275 yards in the last two games. Auburn will need him and fellow runner Kerryon Johnson to churn out some yards and first downs and take pressure off QB Sean White and a struggling passing game.

FACTS & FIGURES

LSU has won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last nine. The home team has won 14 of the last 16 games in the series. ... Auburn leads the SEC in rushing at 261.7 yards per game. ... Key's five sacks is the most by an LSU player through three games according to records dating back to 1980. ... Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele held the same post at LSU last season. ... Auburn's freshmen and sophomores have accounted for 1,177 of the team's 1,367 yards of total offense. ... Auburn hasn't started 1-3 since 2012 when they wound up 3-9 and didn't win an SEC game.