#14 Georgia Bulldogs (10-2, 7-1 SEC) vs #1 LSU Tigers (12-0, 8-0 SEC)
All the SEC marbles are on the line this weekend in Atlanta, and the argument could be made that the game features the nation’s two hottest teams.
SEC Championship Game, Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA
Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: Georgia +425, LSU -550
Spread: Georgia +14, LSU -14
Over/Under: 46.5
Georgia, who has rattled off 10 straight wins in a row, is bested by very few teams in terms of recent performance, but one of them is the unbeaten LSU Tigers. The Tigers are having an all-time great season with an effective offense and an absolutely suffocating defense.
It almost looked like LSU was toying with Arkansas last week (a team that, by the way, was ranked #3 in the nation before that game). The game was close at halftime, until the Tigers blew it open in the second stanza and finished with a decisive 41-17 victory – in what was supposed to be the Tigers’ toughest test this season outside of Alabama.
The game against the Crimson Tide was a gutty war, but they won that one, too, as well as every other game in 2011. Needless to say, LSU is about as daunting as a college team could possibly be right now.
But let’s not write Georgia off just yet. The ’Dawgs are shining on the gridiron at the right time, with a winning formula.
Georgia has strong quarterbacking led by Aaron Murray (whom I would argue is better than either option for LSU, Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee), a deep running game thanks to freshman Isaiah Crowell, who did not play last week against Georgia Tech to rest up for this game, ample receiving targets and a game defense.
If there is anything that makes me a little apprehensive about Georgia, it’s that some of its key contributors are freshman. Crowell and WR Malcolm Mitchell have been outstanding in their 2011 debuts, but will the lack of experience hurt Georgia in such a big game, on such a big stage, against such a daunting opponent? [soliloquy id=”82219″]
It’s clear that Murray has moxie and leadership to spare, but with a couple crucial players being such fresh-faced young men, the question begs asking.
The raving about LSU’s defense has come early and often, but the key to Georgia having a chance in this SEC title game might just be its ability to slow down LSU’s ruthlessly effective running attack. Whether it’s been Michael Ford, Spencer Ware or platoon QB Jefferson, the Tigers have been getting excellent yields on the ground against good SEC opponents.
If Georgia’s talented “D” cannot at least slow down that onslaught, then the Bulldogs are probably dead meat.
It will be tricky enough for Georgia to post points on its own accord, but if it lets LSU get anywhere near the output it had in last week’s Arkansas game, then this match-up will be over in a hurry. Much has been said about Georgia’s back seven, which is talented, but the Bulldogs must get a huge day out of their defensive line if they want a chance.
That will be made more difficult with the “Questionable” status of DT DeAngelo Tyson, who was injured on an illegal chop block play in last week’s rivalry game against Tech.
Georgia may be forced to lean heavily on a dinged-up Crowell, as LSU’s unmatched defensive secondary will probably swallow up viable targets like Mitchell, WR Tavarres King and TE Orson Charles. Murray is a huge X-factor in this ballgame.
If he found a way to have a huge game and somehow lead Georgia to upset victory, he would cement his status as a legend Between the Hedges.
If not, it looks like LSU could walk away with the SEC Championship much like it has walked away with most of the results this season. Look for LSU to win a game that ends up being closer than you might expect.
Score Prediction: LSU 31, Georgia 24
Over/Under Prediction: 55
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