Tom Dodge
Being a life-long Auburn fan in the state of Louisiana has its disadvantages, especially when LSU wins.
The third week of the season has LSU visiting the Loveliest Village on the Plains in a game that will help shape the outcome of the battle for the SEC West title.
The rivalry between the two Tiger teams has become more intense over the years.
In 1988, Auburn entered the game 4-0, ranked fourth and had outscored their opponents 161-44.
But LSU held Auburn to only two field goals.
The LSU offense also struggled but with six minutes remaining, quarterback Tommy Hodson engineered a 15-play, 75-yard drive.
With 1:41 left, Hodson rocketed an 11-yard touchdown pass to fullback Eddie Fuller.
The 79,431 in attendance erupted with such force that it set off the seismograph in Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex located 1,000 feet from Tiger Stadium.
Since then, the game has been known as “The Earthquake Game.”
In 1994, Auburn was on a 14-game winning streak, but LSU had a 23-9 lead with 14:17 left in the fourth quarter.
LSU quarterback Jamie Howard then threw five of his six interceptions in that quarter—three of which were returned for touchdowns.
Howard’s final pass was picked in the end zone with 16 seconds remaining to secure Auburn’s 30-26 win.
In 2007, LSU trailed Auburn 24-23 with 32 seconds remaining.
Les Miles had one timeout left but chose not to use it so with eight seconds left, the ball was snapped.
LSU quarterback Matt Flynn found Demetrius Byrd open for a 22-yard touchdown pass with one second on the clock to lift LSU to a 30-24 win.
LSU would finish the 2007 season as the SEC and BCS National Champions.
In 2016, as time expired LSU quarterback Danny Etling connected with receiver D.J. Chark in the right corner of the end zone. to give LSU a 19-18 victory.
But it didn’t work out that way as the officials ruled the ball didn’t get snapped in time so LSU lost the touchdown and the game.
Miles would be fired the next day.
Last year, LSU outscored Auburn 27-3 after falling behind 20-0 early in the first half.
So while Auburn is the home team and LSU was picked to have a 17.4 percent chance of winning at Jordan Hare Stadium, this game is very important for both Tiger teams.
Anything is possible, as witnessed for all these years.
For the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, this week will be a tough task against Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs have only a 1.4 precent chane to lose and this game coud be over at halftime.
Against SEC team last year, UL lost to Texas A&M 51-7 and Ole Miss 50-22.
In 2016, the Cajuns battled Georgia before falling 35-21.
UL opened the 2015 season with a near upset of Kentucky as the Wildcats scored in the final minute to win, 40-33.
The road game to Starkville will see the Cajuns fall to 1-1 on the season.
After home games againt Wake Forest and Nichols State, Tulane visits Alabama-Birmingham with a chance to improve to 2-1 on the season.
UL Monroe visits Texas A&M – at least the Aggies will show them the money before running up the score.
McNeese and Nichols will battle in Lake Charles as the Cowboys look to avenge a 37-35 loss to the Colonels last season.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in the series previewing the 2018 football season: