LSU Vs. Auburn Preview: At Least One More Year of Tigers vs. Tigers Being Unique

LSU Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Everybody knows by now that a series of bizarre events has marked the LSU-Auburn series in recent years. So when there was a literal bomb threat against the LSU campus that forced Les Miles to postpone his press conference this week -- business as usual.

LSU-Auburn week always has some wild twists. This reported bomb threat on LSU campus adds another chapter to it. Press conference canceled.

— Bill Martin(@LSUBillMartin) September 17, 2012

But for all that hullabaloo, the fact of the matter is that this game is likely to be decided by a pair of statistics, even if they're slightly inflated on either side. LSU is first in the SEC in rushing offense, even if they haven't really faced a difficult team this year. (Washington is probably not as easy a team as people think, but the rushing defense is not a strength.)

Meanwhile, Auburn has allowed 217 yards a game this year, even if the competition has been a bit stouter. (Clemson and Mississippi State might both defeat Washington in head-to-head games.) That's "good" for last in the SEC, and there's little reason to believe that the lackluster Auburn offense will be able to make up the difference.

So there might be something weird that happens during this game, but Auburn winning will probably not be it. In the original and still only Tiger-Tiger matchup in the SEC, LSU emerges as the top Bengal in the SEC.

LSU 38, Auburn 21