5 Reasons Why LSU beat Auburn

LSU beat Auburn 30-24 last night in an exhilerating finish that made Death Valley quake like in 1988. Here are 5 honest, objective reasons why LSU won. I'm an LSU fan, but the reasons why are the reasons why. Let's begin:

1. THE OFFICIATING CREW: Let's be real here: This game is dramatically different if two easy calls are made by the refs. Both favored LSU. Midway through the fourth quarter, a Jacob Hester touchdown was allowed to stand after a lengthy review, even though a replay clearly showed LSU had only six men (seven is the minimum) on the line of scrimmage. Not only would the penalty have negated LSU's touchdown, but it would have backed them up 5 yards as well, putting in doubt a TD play. Again, with just under two minutes left, LSU running back Richard Murphy — trying to convert a 3rd and 3 — was tackled at Auburn's 38 and after hitting the ground he bounced forward at the 38 and a half yard line, right where the first down was. The spot was more than generous for Murphy, it was simply crazy. Yet, the SEC replay booth didn't deem the play fit to review and LSU was able to avoid a 4th and short. Would they have gotten it? Probably. But it's unfair not to give Auburn a chance to defend a 4th and short. Incredibly, on both calls, Auburn's Tommy Tuberville refused to challenge the calls, which brings us to the next reason why Auburn lost.

2. TUBERVILLE'S COYNESS: The man can coach, we all know that, but he coached an awfully coy game against LSU. Tuberville is a guy that has to win on his own terms, not by ways he can't stomach. An LSU kickoff return for TD? He couldn't stomach that. A knockdown, dragout grind-em-out running game by LSU? Tubby couldn't stomach losing like that, so he played the game always holding his spades instead of all-out. His refusal to kick deep on kickoffs gave LSU tremendous field position the entire game, including on their game-winning drive. Also, he defied reason by refusing to challenge not one, but TWO questionable decisions by the officials (the Hester touchdown and the Murphy spot). To compound matters, with LSU eating up the clock and inside of a minute he refused to call timeout to salvage any few remaining seconds he team would need if LSU converted.

3. THE RETURN OF DOUCET: Early Doucet, back for extended duty for the first time in six games, had 1 catch in the first half for zero yards. LSU's passing game looked accordingly, too. Brandon LeFell continued to lefail. Demetrius Byrd dropped key passes until the last 20 minutes of the game. But Doucet turned it up in the second half. He led all receivers in the game with seven catches for 93 yardss. A 33-yard pass from Flynn to Doucet in triple coverage for a first down at the Auburn 34-yard line sparked LSU’s first comeback and established momentum for the Tigers receivers.

4. DEMETRIUS BYRD: The LSU receiver feasted on Auburn's DBs in the second half with big catches from Matt Flynn. He finished with 89 yards on just 3 catches, including a 58-yarder in the 3rd quater. Of the last catch of the game, Flynn said he noticed a tendency. “I saw on some of the previous plays from that formation that (Auburn) was leaving their DBs on us one-on-one,” Flynn said. “Byrd has great speed — an extra gear — so I just threw the ball up there, and he wrapped up around the DB and made a great catch.”

5. AUBURN'S RUNNING GAME GOES AWOL: Auburn's tailbacks Brad Lester and Ben Tate had been hurting LSU in the first half, especially Lester, but they couldn't break though the line in the second half. That significantly weakened the Tigers' attack. Three of the team's first four second-half drives went nowhere. Lester gouged LSU for 68 yards on 16 attempts, often times turning and twisting for extra yardage after being hit; the flow of the game dictated that they pound Lester into the LSU line but they never did, instead settling for Brandon Cox throws that were off the mark. That allowed LSU to get back in the game and outscore Auburn 23 to 7 after Auburn took a 24-14 lead.