Oddsmaker: Georgia would be 10.5-point underdogs to LSU
Les Miles' team is ranked No. 1 by the BCS.
Mark Richt's Dogs have won eight straight.
As Georgia fans begin to allow themselves to dream the impossible dream — beating LSU in the SEC championship game — here’s a clue about how big of an underdog the Bulldogs would be that week.
Todd Fuhrman, the senior race and sports analyst for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas, said Monday that he projects LSU to be a 10½-point favorite over Georgia at the SEC title game at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 3. That assumes the Dogs win their final two games against Kentucky (which would clinch the SEC East) and Georgia Tech (road), and LSU defeats Mississippi (road) and Arkansas (home).
Fuhrman, reached by phone on Monday, said the point spread will be about 10½ “unless something unexpected happens, like LSU struggles against Arkansas. The [SEC title] game is going to be played in the Georgia Dome, but in championship games there’s not a real home field advantage.”
Georgia fans might perceive the projected line as a lack of respect for a team that will have won 10 straight. But Fuhrman said, “A couple of weeks ago I think most of us would’ve said LSU would be close to a two-touchdown favorite. But their offense has struggled some the last couple of weeks and Georgia’s defense is playing well, especially against the run, like they showed in the Auburn game. If LSU can’t run, they’re going to have problems.”
Fuhrman also said that the play of quarterback Aaron Murray and the receivers around him give Georgia “a puncher’s chance” in that game.
The projected 10½-point spread seems right to me. Do you agree, or is Georgia being short-changed?
By Jeff Schultz
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391 comments Add your comment
GTBob
November 14th, 2011
2:22 pm
Hmm, no team other then Alabama has gotten that close to LSU but UGA fans think they can. You gotta love it.
OkieDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:23 pm
If Guz goes to Ole Miss, I would love to see Trooper Taylor promoted to OC. Now that would be funny. That dude is a total waste of skin.
Dawgwild
November 14th, 2011
2:23 pm
DC, yeah there are bad Georgia fans and bad AU fans. I live in Bham and have to hear about it all the time. that’s the reason I’m giving you a hard time. I know ya’ll got some talent relax. Ya’ll had that coming from last year. Good luck against BAMA.
who cares
November 14th, 2011
2:23 pm
I’ll take LSU and 10.5 for each half!!!!! Not a chance it is close.
MT
November 14th, 2011
2:24 pm
Overall, my experience in athens was a good one. I was only flipped off twice…
But you went home dry?
Skitty Fritty
November 14th, 2011
2:24 pm
GTBob:
Didn’t Tech beat Clemson? Why can’t UGA beat LSU?
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 14th, 2011
2:24 pm
Some UGA fans may have left early to tailgate with some beautiful co-eds…not a bad idea.
DawginLex
November 14th, 2011
2:25 pm
Gary Danielson disagrees with you GTbob and he watches a lot more SEC football than you do
Ultimate Curtis
November 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
Any team that loses, at home, to the Mountain West runner up by two touchdowns, should just keep their mouth shut and let the big boys in the west sort it out. The only thing that winning the east has done for you Dawg fans, is buy you another year of Mark Richt. Enjoy.
Joey
November 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
Got a serious question, BCS Champs.
Do you think UGA just had a good day Saturday? I know you know we were more dominating vs AU than LSU was 3 weeks ago.
I’m even wondering where our performance came from, but if the Dawgs can play that well, how would LSU beat us by 20?
MT
November 14th, 2011
2:27 pm
Hmm, no team other then Alabama has gotten that close to LSU but UGA fans think they can. You gotta love it
Yeah and you were one of the Tech nerd/snobs that didn’t think the dawgs could beat Auburn also.
Win 62 coming soon.
ssidawg
November 14th, 2011
2:27 pm
Right now I just want to beat Kentucky. I don’t care what the point spread is as long as we’re playing for the SEC Championship!!
I Can't Wait
November 14th, 2011
2:27 pm
to humiliate trek again this year.
Georgia Trek – where football dreams go to die.
61-39-5
Bulldawg Charlie
November 14th, 2011
2:27 pm
Why does Les Miles spread his fingers so far apart when he claps?
Yoda dawg
November 14th, 2011
2:28 pm
I went to high school with bobo and still have many close friends who stay in touch with him. Rumor is he is getting head coaching offers from smaller schools and is actually considering them. We do not want to lose him. He is a great offensive coach.
OkieDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
Hey GTBob, How did yesterday’s NCAA probation appeal go? GT still on probation?
Fair and Balanced
November 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
Honest to goodness, Im a loyal Ga fan and Im happy about winning 8 straight and think we will take care of business vs Ky but Im not certain about Ga Tech. I mean, Tech beat the no 5 team in the land, Ga has nothing like that to it’s credit. We talk too much. I hope the players and coaches don’t talk like us. Seriously!
Pat Dye
November 14th, 2011
2:30 pm
Auburn wasn’t “Man Enough” to beat Georgia
P_The_Ricker
November 14th, 2011
2:30 pm
better question:
what would be the spread if the gamecocks were playing in this year’s game? would it be closer than last year’s stellar perfomance against auburn (17-56)?
spurrier is all about “1sts” at south carolina. that was the most lop-sided sec championship game ever! congrats spurrier!
DC
November 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
Skitty, just fact we lost so many seniors/starters last year. So many projections saw us going 6-7 or lower..plus this is our “away” year…I don’t like the way AU’s scheduling goes..its home heavy one year and away heavy the next…
@Dawgwild its all good! I dont mind the giving hard time..its a rivalry game..but i’m glad nothing happened on the field..now all these crazy fans wanting blood will just move on and go back to the way this rivalry has always been…
MT
November 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
Any team that loses, at home, to the Mountain West runner up by two touchdowns, should just keep their mouth shut and let the big boys in the west sort it out.
Its pretty obvious that BS could whip more than just Georgia in the SEC.I ain’t talking teams below Georgia either.
Yoda dawg
November 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
Hey joey- are u the guy who says “whoa”. You are a tv icon- better than tge fonzie’s “heyyy”
Cecil Newton
November 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
If Auburn can raise some more money then I will tell my youngest son to sign with Auburn and you can beat UGA then.
P_The_Ricker
November 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
@2:25PM DawginLex
all due respect, but if we start relying on what gary danielson has to say…..then the world of cfb is in a whole heep of trouble!
GTBob
November 14th, 2011
2:32 pm
Gary Danielson disagrees with you GTbob and he watches a lot more SEC football than you do
Have you listened to that guy call a game? He doesn’t know what down it is half the time.
What do they do with....
November 14th, 2011
2:33 pm
ACC trophies that have to be returned for cheating?
61-39-5
Cecil Newton
November 14th, 2011
2:34 pm
GTBob:
Why does Tech sing the “Budweiser” song at games?
Joey
November 14th, 2011
2:35 pm
I think that’s the point, GTBob . . .
GTBob
November 14th, 2011
2:35 pm
Didn’t Tech beat Clemson? Why can’t UGA beat LSU?
Clemson also almost lost to Wake this past weekend.
How's the construction going on the JBK?
November 14th, 2011
2:35 pm
Oh, that’s it? You mean that’s a completed stadium?
Sorry I asked.
AIRDAWGGGG
November 14th, 2011
2:36 pm
JUST WIN BABY!!!!!!!!
Skitty Fritty
November 14th, 2011
2:36 pm
I listened to AM 870 on the home from Athens and the LSU fans don’t think UGA has a chance against LSU. I like the way they are thinking.
RCB
November 14th, 2011
2:37 pm
Since when did giving up points to the number 1 team who beat Alabama at home in a SE championship game become an insult? Sounds like good motivation ot me.
Skitty Fritty
November 14th, 2011
2:37 pm
GTBob:
So, there is no way GT can beat UGA this year?
Russ
November 14th, 2011
2:38 pm
10.5 sounds about right, based on the body of work of both teams so far. Although, I would not be surprised to see UGA do better against LSU’s defense than Bama did. Georgia could also play a pretty good defensive game. In the SEC, anybody can be beat on a given Saturday (unless they are playing Ole Miss or Kentucky this year).
iceDAWGcold11
November 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
What were our our chances/odds of making the SEC titile game much less winning. THAT IS WHY WE PLAY THE GAME. A Dog is a Dawg and it will be our day soon. GA dome here we come.
GTBob
November 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
Skitty Fritty, why would GT have no chance against UGA? There are very few teams that would have no chance against UGA.
Fair and Balanced
November 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
Bulldog Charlie has a good question. Miles claps funny! I guess that when you have so much to clap about you start doing it his way. I like the pic of Richt….Praising God! Go Dawgs!
McDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
thats cool
beat Kentucky and don’t overlook Tech
ARdawg
November 14th, 2011
2:43 pm
To be the man, you have to beat the man and right now, LSU is the man. Line’em up and may the best man win.
@Ultimate Curtis
November 14th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sorry, but it wasn’t a home game, and Boise is still ranked “with the big boys”.
In defense of boise (and UGA’s first 2 games) everyone chokes once in a while, look at Bama vs LSU.
ole richie
November 14th, 2011
2:46 pm
IF and a big IF the dawgs beat LSU….. woah BCS computer overload. Then who would play in the championship. If OU beats OK state then it would really get sticky
McDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:46 pm
not worried about LSU-i can’t wait to see Alec Ogletree dismantle Tech’s QB
robodawg
November 14th, 2011
2:49 pm
“A puncher’s chance” … I’ll take it.
Fair and Balanced
November 14th, 2011
2:52 pm
NC game should always feature the SEC champ until it loses.
Destin Dawg
November 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
JJ and Ogletree… Geathers and Jenkins .. junkyard dawgs will kill ‘em … GT going backwards on offense….. this could get ugly.. our 2nd and 3rd strigers will continue the beating…. UGA 61 GT 7
harold
November 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
UGA WOULD GET DESTROYED BY THIS TOUGH LSU TEAM. LSU IS A BETTER PROGRAM WITH GREAT ASSISTANT COACHES. AND MILES IS A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH. RICHT IS NOT. BUT RICHT IS A VERY NICE MAN!
AceDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:53 pm
If UGA dominates against Kentucky and GTech, they would probably narrow the line to single digits, but an undefeated LSU would deserve a healthy line in their favor on account of their season’s resume. Still, the Dawgs looked good enough against Auburn to be a threat to any team in the nation. I think they would have more than a puncher’s chance. If UGA’s special teams and Aaron Murray are on their A game, they will be a handful. I have no doubt that LSU, Bama, or Arkansas coaches would approach UGA as an equal.
McDawg
November 14th, 2011
2:54 pm
another scenario is AR beats LSU-we beat AR in the Dome and then play LSU in the Sugar Bowl
flagboy?
November 14th, 2011
2:55 pm
GTBob
November 14th, 2011
2:09 pm
10.5? I would take that line any day. I can’t see LSU winning by less then three touchdowns even with their weak offense.
_______________________________
I’ll take your bet. Give me Georgia and 21. It’s a deal.