The Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers are set to face off in another classic top-five SEC Championship match-up. LSU is favored, but both teams are facing arguably their biggest challenge of the season. It’s the best defense LSU has seen and the best offense Kirby Smart and Georgia will face all season.
Georgia must win the turnover battle, get off the field on third downs, and put pressure on Joe Burrow. Georgia will have to look to limit Burrow the way the Auburn Tigers did weeks ago. Georgia’s defensive line hasn’t gotten the recognition that Auburn’s defensive line has received, but Jordan Davis, Tyler Clark, and Devonte Wyatt have been rock-solid inside. The defense has yet to allow a running back to rush for a touchdown all season (Bo Nix scored the only allowed rushing TD).
At the very least, Georgia must shut down LSU’s run game and make the Tigers offense one-dimensional. LSU will be tough to stop, but sacks can throw any offense off schedule. LSU’s offensive line allows significantly more sacks than Georgia’s elite offensive line:
Georgia is eighth in the SEC with 26 sacks. The Bulldogs must disrupt the timing of LSU’s passing game. LSU will be willing to abandon the run game, like they did in their road game at Texas, if they don’t have any success running the ball. LSU ran the ball at-will against Auburn, Florida, and Alabama. Joe Burrow was a large factor against the Crimson Tide touting fourteen carries. LSU will try to involve him in the run game if they can’t get the dynamic Clyde Edwards-Helaire going.
Offensively, Georgia will have their hands full. LSU’s cornerback duo Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley Jr. is the best duo UGA has faced all season. The Dawgs will be without Lawrence Cager and George Pickens (for the first half). With Georgia thin at receiver, Jake Fromm should look to the Bulldogs’ most favorable match-up: Georgia’s running backs against LSU’s linebackers. D’Andre Swift and James Cook must play a role in Georgia’s passing game:
LSU’s linebackers are old-school, run-stopping players, who aren’t quite the speedy modern NFL linebackers like Roquan Smith. Look for UGA to use several formations with multiple backs, especially in the first half. LSU safety Grant Delpit can guard a Georgia running back on occasion, but with two backs on the field one Georgia RB either has a linebacker on them, or the box will be light.
Lastly, Georgia must dominate the red zone. LSU’s offense averages 390 passing yards per game(!), so they’ll move the ball between the 20s. Georgia must limit the Tigers to field goals and score touchdowns. If Georgia can do all of this, I think the Dawgs have a better shot than most media members believe.
My player to watch in this one is: Georgia’s second CB D.J. Daniel/Tyson Campbell. That duo will see a lot of footballs thrown their way this Saturday and must be up to the task. Go Dawgs!
