SEC Championship - It's Time To Get Real

LSU vs Georgia for the SEC Championship – It’s Time To Get Real

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Strength of Schedule – LSU has played and beaten 3 teams ranked in the Top 3 of the national polls.  At the time that LSU has played them, LSU has beaten #3 Oregon, #25 Mississippi St., #16 West Virginia, #17 Florida, #19 Auburn, #2 Alabama, and #3 Arkansas.  Now LSU faces #12 Georgia for the SEC Championship in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  Georgia lost to the only team in the Top 10 that they have played all year.    Georgia’s first three games were against ranked #5 Boise State & #12 South Carolina and something called Coastal Carolina.  They went 1 – 2, losing to both of the ranked teams.  Georgia has not played anyone anywhere close to as good as Alabama and they lost to the best SEC team that they played. The only team in this game that can beat LSU is … LSU.  If LSU shows up and plays their ‘A’ game, even their ‘B+’ game, they win.  Advantage – LSU

 

Offensive Line – Georgia’s Ben Jones is considered one of the nation's best centers.  But who are we kidding here?  LSU’s O-Line went toe to toe with Alabama’s defensive line and came away with a win.  Advantage - LSU

 

Quarterback – Aaron Murray is going to be drafted by the pro’s one day.  Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will not.  Aaron Murray is probably going to be called on to have to win this game for Georgia.  Jefferson & Lee just have to manage the game and limit turnovers in order for LSU to win.  Advantage – LSU

 

Receiver – Georgia’s A.J. Green now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.  Rueben Randle, Odell Beckham, Jr., Deangelo Peterson, Russell Shepard, Chase Clement, Kadron Boone, James Wright, Jarvis Landry and Mitch Joseph play for LSU.  Georgia’s best receiver is Michael Bennett, a redshirt freshman.  Their tight end, Aron White, is a good one. Advantage – LSU

 

Running Back – Isaiah Crowell is banged up for Georgia.  Without him they turned to a defensive back to help them run the ball against Georgia Tech.  LSU has Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue, and Kenny Hilliard.  Hilliard, the fourth string freshman running back, gained 100 yards against the #3 team in the nation.   Advantage – LSU

 

Defensive Line – LSU goes 8 deep on the D-Line. Barkevious Mingo ran down Oregon’s LaMichael James from behind!  The LSU D-Line is deep, talented and fast.  They will be fresh as a daisy in the fourth quarter when Georgia’s O-Line will be gassed.  John Jenkins has played dominant defensive tackle for Georgia and the play of emerging redshirt sophomore Kwame Geathers has significantly bolstered Georgia's defense.  Still, LSU’s D-Line is significantly deeper.  Advantage – LSU

Linebacker – Okay, let’s not pull any punches here.  None of the linebackers in this game will make the All SEC squad.  They are scheme players.  Two of LSU’s linebackers are converted safeties.  ‘Just win baby’ is the name of the game at this position.  Advantage – LSU (by a coin flip)

 

Defensive Back – Georgia has Rambo.  LSU has the Honey Badger.  Georgia’s safety is Bacarri Rambo, now that’s a cool name!  However, LSU also has Morris “Mo” Claiborne, a sure top ten pick in the spring NFL draft.  Claiborne is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the best defensive back in the nation and The Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the nation’s outstanding defensive player.  For LSU you add a healthy Eric Reid along with Brandon Taylor, Ron Brooks, Tharold Simon, and Craig Loston.  Man to man, nickel or dime and clearly it’s:  Advantage - LSU

 

Special Teams – Georgia has always seemed to have the best kickers in the SEC.  It seems like there is always some kicker from Georgia playing in the NFL.  However, that was then, this is now.  LSU has two great kickers.  Brad Wing can punt with either leg, can kick a spiral or an end over end punt on demand, and is deadly at dropping the ball inside an opponent’s 20 yard line.  LSU has allowed just 6 return yards on punts this year.  TOTAL.  SIX YARDS!  Drew Alleman is money anywhere inside 50 yards.  I have no clue who Georgia’s kickers are and haven’t read any of their names in any of the articles about the upcoming game.  Advantage - LSU

 

Game Summary – One Georgia sports blog says this about the game, “Everyone knows that passing against LSU would be to play against their strength, so if a team wants to beat these Tigers, they’ll have to run the football. And they’ll have to run it effectively.”  So, the game comes down to Georgia’s offense against LSU’s defense.  Personally, I don’t think Georgia’s receivers match up well against LSU’s defensive backs.  So the load falls primarily on Isaiah Crowell and Georgia’s offensive line.  LSU is going to run so many bodies at that Georgia O-Line that they are just going to wear them down and LSU will dominate the 4^th quarter.  Crowell is a really good freshman running back and will be a star for Georgia for years to come.  However, this ain’t his year.  LSU wins 42 to 17.

 

 

 

Boudin Chaud. Cous Cous Froide. Allons Tigres--Poussez Poussez Poussez

 

John Broussard

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State of Louisiana

Department of the Treasury

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