Auburn-LSU hinges on JaMarcus Russell's wild wing

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Auburn-LSU hinges on JaMarcus Russell's wild wing

Friday, September 15, 2006

LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell is as nice as any student-athlete you'll ever meet. He's polite, quiet, but not unassuming at 6-foot-6, 260-something pounds.

He's as big as some defensive ends, he can throw it a mile - which sometimes isn't in the vicinity of his receivers - and defenses sometime fluster him with blitzes and stunts.

Last November in Tuscaloosa, the Mobile native and former Alabama Mr. Football played the game of his life. In a 16-13 overtime win over the Crimson Tide, Russell was never more courageous in the face of pressure, from the Bama defense and considering what was on the line for LSU.

An anomaly? No.3 Auburn (2-0) and its new defensive attitude should tell us something Saturday about Auburn, Russell and No. 6 LSU (2-0).

We know Auburn's offense has all the right stuff, plus the Tigers have a kicking game. The defense? So far, so new. Coordinator Will Muschamps hasn't had to show a lot of what Auburn might be able to do. We learned a little from Washington State and absolutely nothing from Mississippi State.

LSU, however, could be an early signature game for Muschamps, if his defense can get to Russell, who has finally learned how to check off to another play at the line.

This week's games:

LSU at Auburn:

LSU beat Auburn 20-17 in overtime last year, but it's Kenny Irons' 218-yard rushing day that left the biggest impression on the Bengal Tigers. They're talking payback, and coach Les Miles loves a good payback story. Take last week against Arizona. During warmups, the Wildcats danced on LSU's logo - named Eye of the Tiger - then Miles danced on Arizona's parade by using that to fire up his team. LSU won 45-3.

To dance on Auburn, LSU must contain Irons and Brad Lester, and get to quarterback Brandon Cox, one of the most accurate passers in the nation.

For Auburn to beat LSU, it starts with getting to Russell, whose passing arm is either wicked or wild. The Bengal Tigers' defense is being compared to the 2003 national championship team's. Auburn 23, LSU 21

Louisiana-Monroe at Alabama:

The Crimson Tide (2-0) shouldn't have a problem with Louisiana-Monroe (1-1), which doesn't have a running game but does have an athletic quarterback in Kinsmon Lancaster. Tide coach Mike Shula calls the ULM offense "scary," so let's hope he has called the University of Kansas and asked how the Jayhawks contained it in their 21-19 win last week. Alabama 30, ULM 7

UAB at Georgia:

UAB (1-1) hasn't done much against the pass so far, giving up 227 yards to a mediocre Oklahoma quarterback and 280 yards to East Carolina. So maybe the Blazers are catching 17-point favored Georgia (2-0) at a good time, with the Bulldogs starting true freshman Matthew Stafford. Probably not. UAB's biggest headache will be Georgia's running backs, Danny Ware, Kregg Lumpkin and Thomas Brown. Georgia 28, UAB 13

Fort Valley State at Miles College:

Miles (1-1) is coming off one of its biggest wins in years, a 31-20 upset at Tuskegee. Statistically, Tuskegee dominated, gaining 331 yards to 156 for Miles. Tuskegee's undoing was turnovers, contributing to 31 Miles points in the second and third quarters. Fort Valley (2-1) comes off a 31-3 loss to instate rival Valdosta State. Fort Valley 27, Miles 26

IN THE SEC

Arkansas at Vanderbilt: We should find out a lot about Houston Nutt's hot-seat status and if Darren McFadden is ready to rejoin the SEC's rushing elite. Arkansas 20, Vanderbilt 17 Ole Miss at Kentucky: We know Kentucky isn't very good on offense, but Ole Miss ranks 104th out of 119 Division I-A schools on defense, a far cry from its ranking of 27th a year ago. Kentucky 20, Ole Miss 18 Tulane at Mississippi State: State is averaging only 161 yards of offense per game, which ranks 119th in the nation, worst among Division I-A schools. Tulane must be really bad as a 10-point underdog. Mississippi State 16, Tulane 10 Wofford at South Carolina: South Carolina starting quarterback Blake Mitchell was arrested on an assault charge Wednesday after an apparent bar fight. He has been suspended indefinitely and senior Syvelle Newton will start for the Gamecocks. It doesn't matter against the 1-1 Terriers. South Carolina 38, Wofford 10

SURPRISE OF THE WEEK

No. 7 Florida (2-0) at No. 13 Tennessee (2-0): You can say this for the Gators, they've been impressive in wins over Southern Miss (34-7) and Central Florida (42-0). A 3½-point favorite, Florida comes in with a receiving corps and defense that may be its best in a decade. It also has a running game. Tennessee comes in banged-up and with a lot of question marks after blowing out a good California team in the opener and then avoiding an upset by Air Force last week when the Vols stuffed a late two-point conversion. Tennessee 24, Florida 21

IN OTHER GAMES

Georgia Tech 23, Troy 10 JSU 28, Southeast Missouri 20 Notre Dame 23, Michigan 21 Oregon 26, Oklahoma 24 Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 6 Michigan State 30, Pitt 24 Iowa 36, Iowa State 24 Texas Tech 33, TCU 28 Arizona State 38, Colorado 26 Florida State 24, Clemson 22 Texas A&M 30, Army 21 Charles Hollis' college football picks appear each Friday. Write him at chollis@bhamnews.com