LSU (9-3) wasn’t able to end their regular season on a high note with a stunning loss in College Station last Saturday. The Tigers will now turn their attention to the SEC Championship where they are heavy underdogs against the No. 1 team in the land, Georgia (12-0). LSU will have to be on it’s a-game if they want to knock off the Bulldogs on Saturday.
LSU vs. Georgia Game Information:
Current Records: LSU (9-3) vs. Georgia (12-0)
Date/Time: December 3rd @ 3:00 p.m. CT
Where: Mercedes Benz Stadium; Atlanta, GA.
Where to Watch: CBS (Commentators: Play-By-Play Brad Nessler, Analyst Gary Danielson, Reporter Jenny Dell)
Spread: Georgia (-17.5)
LSU vs. Georgia Series History:
LSU leads the all-time series against Georgia, 18-13-1. The last time the two teams met was in the 2019 SEC Championship game where the Tigers upended the Bulldogs, 37-10, on their way to winning the national championship that year.
Previewing LSU Heading into Conference Championship Week:
LSU played one of its worst games of the year last Saturday in the 38-23 loss to Texas A&M. The loss was a crucial one for the Tigers as it saw its playoff hopes get crushed and the potential to make a New Year’s Six bowl now comes at the hands this weekend against Georgia. LSU would have to pull off the upset to receive an automatic bid to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
LSU’s defense had no answer against Texas A&M as Devon Achane was able to finish out the regular season with an electric performance. Achane led the Aggies in rushing as he went on to rush for 215 yards on 38 carries for two touchdowns. The other star for Texas A&M that gashed the Tiger defense was Moose Muhammad III. Muhammad III was able to haul in five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.
The Tiger defense was unable to get Texas A&M’s offense behind the sticks as the Aggies had multiple occasions of having a third and short all night. Texas A&M was able to gash LSU’s defense on the ground as they racked up 274 total rushing yards on the night. Texas A&M was able to control the line of scrimmage on their way to upsetting the Tigers. LSU missed a key piece in the secondary as Jarrick Bernard-Converse was absent against the Aggies, but he is on track to return this weekend after clearing the concussion protocol.
Slow starts continued for the Tiger offense on Saturday and that has to quickly change going into this weekend’s matchup against Georgia. LSU’s offense will be getting Josh Williams back as he has been dealing with an injury that kept him out against UAB and Texas A&M. John Emery Jr. was able to be effective in his absence against Texas A&M as he was able to find the end zone twice.
Jayden Daniels wasn’t able to find the endzone as the Aggie defense had an effective game plan on stopping the junior quarterback. Daniels had a costly turnover in that game that led to Texas A&M scoring on a scoop-and-score to give them a 24-17 lead that flipped the momentum and the trajectory of the game. The junior quarterback is on track to play against Georgia as he has been dealing with an ankle injury and was seen in a walking boot early in the week.
Scouting LSU’s Opponent: Georgia
The defending national champions haven’t skipped a beat this year as they finished the regular season at 12-0. Georgia was able to reach the 12-win mark for the second consecutive year, even with all of the departures from last year’s NFL Draft. Even with a loss here, it is without question that Georgia has already locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs have come up short in recent years when they reached the SEC Championship, so they will be looking to add an SEC title to their trophy case.
Georgia is led by sixth-year senior Stetson Bennett that has continued his star performance in the national championship game against Alabama. Bennett’s go-to target this year has been Brock Bowers. Bowers has become one of the nation’s best tight ends and he can line up on offense in many different ways.
Bowers has 46 catches for 645 yards and five touchdowns. He also has been shown in the running game as he has carried the ball six times for 93 yards and three touchdowns. The talent on offense doesn’t stop there as Kenny McIntosh has been the leading rusher for the Bulldogs. McIntosh has 654 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the season.
The other targets on offense are Ladd McKonkey and Darnell Washington. McKonkey, like Bowers has become prevalent in the receiving and running game for the Bulldog offense. Washington, on the other hand, is a freak of nature standing at 6’7 and he has the ability of being a red zone monster for Georgia.
Georgia’s defense remains one of the best units in all of college football. The Bulldogs have only allowed 11 points per game on the year. Georgia’s defense has depth and athleticism that can challenge any opponent that steps on the field with them.
Zion Logue, Nazir Stackhouse and Jalen Carter has been able to fill the shoes this season with losing Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt to the NFL Draft. The Bulldog defensive line has allowed an average of 79.5 rushing yards per game this season. Not only that, but Georgia’s defense has finished the regular season as the top-scoring defense for a second straight year.
Kelee Ringo has been the focal point of the Georgia secondary as he has become the leader of a talented Bulldog defense. Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter and Malaki Starks have all become key starters for the back end of Georgia’s defense throughout the season. The Bulldogs have become a strong defensive unit on the ground and through the air.
Prediction for LSU vs. Georgia:
LSU can’t afford to start off slow that they are used to when facing off against SEC foes. The Tigers will have to play their best game of the year to pull off the upset against the top-ranked Bulldogs. The purple and gold will face their toughest challenge yet on the offensive side of the ball going up absent the best defense in the nation.
LSU will have to have a clean game that way it doesn’t allow Georgia’s offense to flip the field. The Tiger defense will have to create turnovers to be able to flip the momentum for their offense. It will be challenging for LSU to control the line of scrimmage against Georgia’s strong defensive front, but getting Williams back in the backfield will be key for the Tigers to run the ball effectively against the Bulldog front.
The Tigers face an uphill battle to be able to finish off Brian Kelly’s first year with an SEC Championship. Look for the Tigers to give it their best shot, but in the end Georgia will be too much as they will claim the SEC Championship in their backyard in Atlanta.
Prediction: Georgia 35, LSU 14
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