The year was 1999 and Auburn had just handed LSU a devastating 41-7 loss in Baton Rouge. To celebrate the victory, as well as head coach Tommy Tuberville’s birthday, Auburn players and coaches smoked cigars on the field at Tiger Stadium. The act didn’t sit well with LSU players or fans, and many consider that as the day the LSU-Auburn rivalry officially began. Auburn has not won in Baton Rouge since.

The LSU-Auburn rivalry is set to renew again as the two teams meet this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where LSU has not won since 1998. The last time LSU did battle in Auburn, JaMarcus Russell and the Tiger offense was held to only a field goal in a 7-3 loss.

Last year, LSU shocked Auburn in Baton Rouge after LSU head coach Les Miles decided to try to go for a touchdown instead of attempting a 41-yard field goal with time running out in the fourth quarter. Demetrius Byrd made a last-second grab in the end zone to give LSU a thrilling 30-24 victory.

Last year’s game also stoked the flames of this rivalry after Auburn guard Chaz Ramsey chop blocked at the knees of former LSU DT Glenn Dorsey. The incident is still fresh on the minds of some LSU players, including defensive linemen Ricky-Jean Francois:

“Is the game really that serious or that important that you’d go out and ruin somebody’s career?” Jean-Francois said. “I wasn’t really worried about it happening again until somebody mentioned it (Tuesday). Now it’s something you have to think about. I hope whatever happens this week, they let a pancake block be the worse thing they do.”

Ramsey won’t play this Saturday because of a back injury, but LSU doesn’t need what happened last year or the 1999 cigar incident to motivate them. Just seeing the AU on Auburn’s helmets is all the motivation LSU needs to want to stick to one of their most hated rivals.

Below is a list of LSU and Auburn blogs and information sites to get you primed for the matchup.

Top LSU Tigers Sites
TigerBait.com
TigerDroppings.com
And The Valley Shook
Tigers Sports Zone.net

Top Auburn Tigers Sites
Auburn Tigers Official Website
Track Em Tigers.com
Tigers Corner
AuburnSports.com

Eleven of the last 18 meetings between these two teams have been decided by a touchdown or less, with the home team winning the last eight games. With how bad Auburn is currently struggling on offense, LSU shouldn’t have many issues on defense. But they might have problems moving the ball on Auburn’s defense, which is currently one of the best units in the nation.

Oddsmakers have made LSU a 2.5-point road favorite.

Top 25 Action:
No. 6 LSU (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at No. 10 Auburn (3-0, 1-0 SEC), Saturday 7:45 PM ET ESPN
The last time these two teams met in Auburn, JaMarcus Russell and the LSU offense was stuffed by the Tigers’ defense in a 7-3 loss in 2006. LSU hasn’t won in Auburn since 1998 and 11 of the last 18 meetings between these two schools have been decided by a touchdown or less. LSU and its 33rd-ranked offense might have trouble moving the ball against Auburn’s 10th-ranked defense, but the LSU defense should have no issues stopping an Auburn offense that has struggled mightily so far this season. LSU is currently a 2.5-point road favorite.

No. 18 Wake Forest (2-0) at No. 24 Florida State (2-0), Saturday 7:00 PM ET ESPN2
Don’t let Florida State’s gaudy stats fool you – the Seminoles have beaten two FCS teams and have yet to be challenged. They’ll get their first real test of the year when the Demon Deacons travel to Tallahassee this Saturday. While their two wins might have given FSU confidence heading into this game, the Noles are still young at a lot of positions, especially quarterback where sophomore Christian Ponder (396 yards, 6 TDs) is off to a great start this season but has yet to face a real defense. Deacons’ QB Riley Skinner will also look to continue his hot play after amassing 487 passing yards and five touchdowns in Wake’s first two games this season. The Seminoles are currently favored by 4 points at home.

Upset Watch:
Troy (2-0) at No. 13 Ohio State (2-1), Saturday 12:00 PM ET Big Ten Network
OSU head coach Jim Tressel said RB Chris “Beanie” Wells is questionable to play Saturday after missing the past two games with an injured big toe. The Buckeyes also have issues at quarterback, where incumbent starter Todd Boeckman has strung together three poor outings in a row, including a disastrous effort in OSU’s 35-3 loss to USC last week. Tressel appears to be giving freshman Terrelle Pryor more of a role in the offense, which might be aiding in Boeckman’s troubles, as it’s hard for a quarterback to establish rhythm when he’s coming out of the game every other snap. Troy has wins over powder puffs Middle Tennessee State and Alcorn State, but the Trojans are no pushovers. They currently own the top ranked pass defense in the nation and have averaged over 500 yards a game offensively in their two victories. If anyone thinks a smaller school can’t compete with OSU at the Horseshoe, just look at what Ohio was able to do two weeks ago in Columbus when they went toe to toe with the Buckeyes for three and a half quarters. Ohio State is currently a 21-point favorite.

Other notable games:
No. 4 Florida at Tennessee, Saturday 3:30 PM ET CBS
No. 3 Georgia at Arizona State, Saturday 8:00 PM ET ABC
No. 9 Alabama at Arkansas, Saturday 12:30 PM ET