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
Muffican Jam
November 14th, 2011
6:03 pm
CHDawg what does that say about your program when freshmen come right into the program getting big reps? Face it you guys have done a good job at beating east teams that are down this year. Let’s see you sustain this over the years.
UGASlobberknocker
November 14th, 2011
6:04 pm
If LSU is undefeated and #1, but loses to UGA, can they still make the BCS championship game? I think yes. What other 1 loss team would be ranked ahead of them (assuming OK St remains undefeated)?
so the perfect scenario is the Dawgs win the SEC , but still have LSU play and win the BCS championship game, keeping the BCS steak alive. I’m cool with that.
Muffican Jam
November 14th, 2011
6:05 pm
MontyP…the P must stand for PIPE!! Are you crazy. Ga’s D is comparable with Bama’s!!! Look if you don’t choose to get help from Charter, please get help.
Big Bob
November 14th, 2011
6:09 pm
I think the 10 1/2 point spread would be about right. I think UGA would win 21-10 so the spread is about right, just picking the wrong team. UGA can’t be stopped on offense and our defense can’t be scored on. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo DAWGS!
schultz for brains
November 14th, 2011
6:10 pm
screw the points. I got the dawgs straight up!
CHDawg
November 14th, 2011
6:11 pm
Muffi, it means that we have extremely talented freshmen. The key is when they not only beat out upper classmen, but they also beat other teams. It happens, but it is very rare.
Dream World Dawg
November 14th, 2011
6:19 pm
Who is the Best team UGA has beaten this year?……. NOBODY… This Guy has the answer too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2oZWpqtNi4
BurytheBone
November 14th, 2011
6:19 pm
I will take the Dawgs and the 10,5 Muffican Jam. Care to make a wager? I accept paypal if you even have a checking acct.
Columbus
November 14th, 2011
6:44 pm
Well we do not expect to be even with the #1 team in the country Schultz. Got to go find the negative perspective again dont you? But you know what? We CAN dream because we will be playing IN the game! How do you like that Schultz? Burns you up doesnt it?! LOL!
You know why else we can dream BIG? UGA defense will keep us in any game baby!
You know who cannot dream though? GT! They might get shutout when they meet the UGA defense! Run killers they are! When Tech faces a decent defense, the offense is basically stymied.
I assure you of this: think VT defense but MUCH better. Think Virginia defense byt MUCH better, This is NOT a Clemson Tiger defense LOL. This is one of the BEST defenses in the country AND it is HEALTHY for once AND ONLY GETTING BETTER AND IT EATS RUNNING BACKS FOR LUNCH! By the way UGA and GT will kickoff at…..LUNCH TIME BABY!
Schultz no matter how many NEGATIVE views you can find to write about in positive UGA happenings….YOU CANNOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM US OR KNOCK US DOWN OR TAKE AWAY OUR JOY OR BEAT US! We ARE ON THE WAY UP! And I know that it kills you but it is true. And it is only going to get worse for you the next few years! We might lose to LSU and odds say we will and if we do that is OK! We got there inspite of all the negativity and pressure from you and Bradley! Fire Richt LOL! How many articles did you write pointing out his stellar record as a first time head coach and emphasizing the facts surrounding the last 2 seasons? That it was understandable? LOL you probably hate them so bad you couldnt bring yourself to do anything but put things like that in but as a footnote! Richt is not going anywhere Schultz. UGA will rule the state of Georgia and each will have one great season every 20 years, maybe 2. As long as Richt is at UGA, we will ALWAYS PERSEVERE, WEATHER THE STORM, TO YOUR DISMAY, AND MORE YEARS THAN NOT WILL BE SERIOUS CONTENDERS FOR THE SEC EAST AND MAKE A FEW SEC TITLE GAMES AND WIN SOME OF THEM. You keep looking for the negative angle to put a damper on UGA and its fans no matter how well the team has done in the face of adverstiy, A new AD a new DC anddefensive scheme, players leaving early for the NFL, an injury descimated OL, defections, etc. Joe Cox, Freshman QB, young players, undeserved media pressure to hurt UGA recruiting and psyche and moral. I know , no excuses for UGA, no slack for UGA, no love for UGA, KICK THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOWN! YOU DID BROTHER! BRADLEY DID TOO BUT WE TOOK YOUR BEST PUNCHES AND WE ARE STILL STANDING AND GOING TO THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? YOU AND THE OTHERS AT THE MOST BIASED NEWSPAPER IN THE STATE OF GA? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
WE LOVE RICHT, THE PLAYERS, THE COACHES(EXCEPT BOBO SOMETIMES)THE A.D. THE PRESIDENT AND WE KNEW THERE WERE REASONS THE LAST 2 YEARS WERE DOWN! IT IS NOT LIKE WE HAD VETERAN QB AND RB AND OL AND DEFENSE SCHEME IN PLACE FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS! WE DONT EVEN HAVE GRANTHAMS PLAYERS IN PLACE YET LOL!
KNock us when we are down. We are STRONGER THAN EVR BABY! WE TOOK EVERYONE’S BEST SHOT! SPURRIER WAS MORE RATIONAL AND REASONABLE THAN ANY OF YOU MORONS HERE! EVERYBODY IN FOOTBALL WAS, EVERYBODY OUTSIDE FOOTBALL WERE UNFAIR AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED! BUT BRING IT ON! THE STORM IS OVER LOOK OUT FOR UGA THE NEXT 4 YEARS!
Poopdawg
November 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
Slobber , no teams are allowed to play for the BCS championship unless they are their conference champions. That’s according to the 2007 season results when UGA was ranked 4th during championship week and the top 2 teams loss. UGA Dropped to 7th. If Oklahoma beats Ok ST and UGA beats LSU look for Oregon to play Oklahoma.
Poopdawg
November 14th, 2011
6:55 pm
Columbus , GT will expose our defence’s weakness , our corners ability to tackle. They will come up every 4th or 5th play but will not tackle as they should the entire game. Hopefully GT runs the B back most of the game.
Crdawg
November 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
The line really has nothing to do with who Vegas THINKS will win the game. It’s based on national perception. Vegas’ goal is to get 50% of all money on each team and let the casinos win the juice (a commission paid to book makers on losing bets). The line grows or shrinks when too much money is being bet on one team. So LSU, with the #1 ranking will be the perceived favorite by 10.5. Seems about right to me. I think the dawgs will certainly give LSU all they can handle and possibly win based on their recent play.
Call me stupid
November 14th, 2011
7:18 pm
But I don’t think LSU beating ARK is a given and as far as LSU beating AL – all you have to do is shut down AL run and you can beat them and GA can shut down the run – I for one would rather play LSU or AL than ARK for the SEC title -
Eric C.
November 14th, 2011
7:19 pm
National perception aside, based on recent performances, I think LSU will struggle to even score 11 pts. UGA may not get 11 pts either, but I see no reason why LSU will move the ball with any consistency on UGA.
The wildcard will be special teams…the Dawgs cannot let those ugly special teams errors pop up like they did against UF and at other times this season. Walsh will be asked to hit some long FGs and he will be absolutely critical if the Dawgs are going to have a chance.
Anyway, I’m not convinced LSU will beat Arkansas…and if the game was in Fayetteville, I’d definitely be calling for an upset.
Call me stupid
November 14th, 2011
7:22 pm
One more thing – I do believe GA has a better O thant LSU and AL – GA seems to have a better balance and more play makers – v/s just one go to guy.
Wooden
November 14th, 2011
7:31 pm
Well, I hope Ga. gets its chance to play LSU, then they will get a taste of how real men play the game!!
Bonnie
November 14th, 2011
7:36 pm
we haven’t beaten Kentucky yet
davidinloganville
November 14th, 2011
7:42 pm
I haven’t seen anything about ga tech and their appeal for cheating I was hoping someone could let me know.
Bogey
November 14th, 2011
7:56 pm
Wrong, Poopdawg. Winning the conference championship is not a requirement to play the MNC game. Yes, UGA got screwed in 2007. If that was a rule how could there be the much talked about rematch between LSU and ALA?
WestOfAthens
November 14th, 2011
8:14 pm
Ouch, too many sour AU fans, what was the topic again?
45-7
DawgNation
November 14th, 2011
8:16 pm
@Bogey
It’s not a BCS rule but an ESPN rule or at least it was in 2007. ESPN dictates who plays in the national championship and right now they are wanting LSU/Bama rematch. IF Georgia should beat LSU then ESPN will ensure their pull will put Bama in against OK St or Stanford depending on the outcomes of their Championship games.
uga dawg
November 14th, 2011
8:17 pm
so GT beats clemson,clemson beat VT, VT beat GT. so it doesnt matter whos ranked what, anyone can beat on anyday. Uga has come a long way since boise, and i kno if we played them at the end of the year we would whip them. and GT, u guys really shouldnt be on this article page, yea u beat clemson ya ya, but GT is inconsistent, on dimensional, and predictable,UGA will shut them down. and as far as LSU goes, lets just strap up and play, let the writers and oddsmakers who arent on the field say what they want to say. UGA has beaten eveyone they’re supposed to beat unlike GT, no one knows how a particular team will play that saturday. Crowell has made up for his mistakes. Dec 3rd, we will see who’s there. GO DAWGS!!!
Studawg
November 14th, 2011
8:33 pm
who cares
That's my muffican jam
November 14th, 2011
8:36 pm
CHDawg@6:11 and Bury the Bone@ 6:19–If LSU falls to UGA I’ll buy both of you a new set of teeth. I know you catch hell trying to eat brunswick stew with the three you have in there!! Better yet, Bury the Bone, I’ll buy your wife a set too so you’ll have a matching set at the trailer park tail gate.
Saywhut
November 14th, 2011
8:51 pm
Who is Mark Fuhrman? (See OJ Simpson.)
Eric C.
November 14th, 2011
8:52 pm
Dang, is LSU some sort of mystical powerhouse? UGA just BEAT, and my BEAT Auburn 45-7…they can play with LSU, and they can beat LSU…end of story.
Eric C.
November 14th, 2011
8:56 pm
Dang, is LSU some sort of mystical powerhouse? UGA just BEAT, and I mean BEAT Auburn 45-7…they can play with LSU, and they can beat LSU…end of story.
Jared
November 14th, 2011
9:27 pm
Funny that UGA is 1 win away from the SECCG and Gators are 1 win away from the Liberty Bowl. Gators fans have the nerve to talk smack on here about the Dawgs when faced with that reality?! Gator chomp your a** outta here punks. At least you only have one more season of misery…(and I am being generous with that assessment). GO DAWGS!
NYCdog
November 14th, 2011
9:29 pm
10.5 looks about right. UGA would have a chance, but only if they beat Kentucky first. LSU has to get through Arkansas as well and that could prove very difficult. UGA getting better each game and that is all one can ever hope to see.
kybodawg
November 14th, 2011
10:03 pm
i believe the last time ga. played lsu in the sec championship they were about a touchdown underdog and they blew lsu,s doors off. play the game. one thing that hurt ala. was the option, tech. runs the option every play.
CHDawg
November 14th, 2011
10:18 pm
Muffi, you can save your money from the tooth fairy, son. I have a job and dental insurance, should I need to replace my teeth. If you will do your homework instead of hanging out on the UGA blog, you can get a job when you grow up, too. And don’t make fun of Bury the Bone, his park is a lot nicer than Tide Roll and Thomas Brown’s.
kerryb
November 14th, 2011
10:43 pm
Look at the two teams that UGA and LSU played within two weeks of each other. LSU beat Miss St 19-6, UGA beat Miss St 24-10. The total yardage gained and given up by both were nearly identical. LSU beat Auburn 45-10. UGA 3 weeks later beat them 45-7. The yardage given up by both teams were nearly the same but, UGA put over 500 yards on Auburn where LSU put a little over 390 yards on Auburn. Also, UGA gave up less rushing yards to Auburn than LSU did. I think the teams are more evenly matched than people think. UGA will give LSU more problems than Alabama because UGA’s passing game is better than Alabama’s which make UGA more balanced.
PowerDawg
November 14th, 2011
10:45 pm
I’ll take a great big bucket full of that action. My justification is simple; there ain’t no way LSU beats this Georgia team that badly.
LSU isn’t strong enough offensively, period. Their running game is due it’s proper respect, but it isn’t a juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination and their passing game is no where good enough to beat us. And Jeffersons’ mobility is not going to scare us either.
Personally, I’d rather play the Tide. I want to face the best runner in the game and you have got to play the best if you want to become the best.
Plus, I hate Saban.
I don’t know who will win the SECCG but I guarantee you all that UGA is good enough to play with any of the contenders that we might face… the Tigers, the Razorbacks or the Tide.
GTBob
November 15th, 2011
12:38 am
there ain’t no way LSU beats this Georgia team that badly.
If LSU can beat Oregon that bad then they can easily beat UGA that bad. UGA is not nearly as good as Oregon.
TheTruthHurts
November 15th, 2011
4:16 am
I predict LSU will beat UGA 14 points. If UGA does not bring its “A” game, it could be another Richt/UGA fanbase national TV embarrasment. A weak schedule makes an average team look a hell of a lot better then they really are. Better hold off on that contract, McGarity, till after the season.
William
November 15th, 2011
5:13 am
Kentucky first. No need to get all bent out of shape over a game that may not even take place.
tell me again
November 15th, 2011
6:00 am
Hey DC – at least we didn’t hose you down after the game. I used to like the Auburn rivalry but after last year I think you guys, your team, and your program suck. Rent a player U.
bubba4dawgs
November 15th, 2011
7:50 am
Don’t count the Dawgs out! They’re getting better all the time and they’re hongry. Don’t mess with a hongry dawg! It will indeed be a good matchup. I think it will be better than most people think. The Dawgs will not roll over. What concerns me is the big play, a long bomb down field and our D not being able to cover. As far as the run is concerned, the Dawgs can handle it. Even LSU hasn’t faced the big line of UGA. Go Dawgs!! Gee,wouldn’t I love a win!!!!!
loel
November 15th, 2011
8:08 am
Heres from the start. Even at 0-2(after the SC game) I said Georgia would roll on strong. People jumped on Richt yet he recruited the players that are showing how awesome they are now. If it wasn’t already planted in the heads of the media and Vegas, Georgia would be a toss up with LSU.
Forget the 0-2 and just look at the performance. There is more raw talent and speed on that team than any team Ga has ever put on the field. Name one that was better. Neither LSU or Alabama has a scary offense, period. They play defense but so does Georgia, #4 in the US of A. Pretty good,, uh
Ga>Lsu
November 15th, 2011
8:38 am
Lsu is way overrated—Grantham’s D can shut down their O and Murray / crowell can put up 27 points easy. Dawgs win by 10: 27-17—bet the house and take the points!!!!
chilidawg
November 15th, 2011
8:41 am
Oh, how I would love to see Arkansas just barely nip LSU and go to the SECCG then watch Les Miles talk about how LSU deserves to go to the BCS Championship, completely ignoring his comments about UGA in 2007.
RxDawg
November 15th, 2011
8:46 am
I’m proud of this team. They’ve turned it around and shown that they’ve got quite a bit to work with in the upcoming seasons. I do not expect them to beat LSU, but we’ve got a fighters chance and you can bet I’ll be glued to the tube for those 60 mins.
jc-dawgs
November 15th, 2011
8:50 am
Formula for Ga to go to bcs champ game is still in tact, imo. It’s a long shot but basically….if Ga wins sec east and then other than the big 12 champ….no other conf champs have less than 1 loss….then Ga would play the big 12 champ in the bcs champ game. Only fly in the ointment could be if a team in the sec west ends up with just 1 loss and did not lose to Georgia. Alabama for instance if LSU defeats Ark and wins the west.
Bottomline….we need PAc 12 south to beat pac 12 north. We need clemson and va tech to lose 1 more time. We need Alabama to get beat again. Ga must win sec.
B'dawg
November 15th, 2011
8:54 am
loel,
I would say that the 2002 was just as good or maybe a bit better. But after thinking about it, this team has done something that that team or any team I can remember, didnt do. Beat fla, tenn, auburn and probably tech in the same season.
BobDawg
November 15th, 2011
9:13 am
Vegas is looking at the pts surrendered average and we are around 18.5/game and LSU is around 8/game… Lots of football between now and then and who gets hurt and who stays healthy also….
BobDawg
November 15th, 2011
9:17 am
GTBob is correct about LSU and if we do bring our A Game then special teams could be the difference and you know how good we have been this year in that area… LSU has an Aussie punter that can knock it into next year and a kicker who is solid….
BurytheBone
November 15th, 2011
9:27 am
So my guess is you don’t want to make a wager? Don’t worry about the teeth my wife and agree, like LSU, they are overated
Dan the man
November 15th, 2011
10:11 am
My Oh My how the dawg faithful has changed their tune: We go from FIRE RICHT AND BOBO to MARK RICHT FOR PRESIDENT. Can you say fickle? lol
JMac2011
November 15th, 2011
10:14 am
You delusional people are so predictable. The projected 10+ spread is there because your pups have yet to beat a good team. A horrible Ole Miss, an overrated Missy State, a terrible Vols team, a crippled Florida, New Mexico State, and an Auburn team that almost lost to Utah State. UGA has not faced a defense in 8 wins, while LSU has faced and BEATEN a better team in hostile Tuscaloosa. GET A LIFE, HOW ABOUT IT.
RedandBlackDawg
November 15th, 2011
10:16 am
After the UGA game against Auburn I think you can pretty much throw out the 10.5. Hate to see how much money those guys won for the house, when so many people bet against the spread. Odds makers do not measure the heart of the team, and UGA has plenty of heart. I realize that LSU has one hell of a defense, but their offense is 88th in the national ranking where it counts the most. If the Ol of UGA can protect the QB, UGA might be alb e to score a huge upset, but that is a big if. I am just delighted that UGA can wrap up the chance against Kentucky this week and get the honor of playing in the SEC championship. After Kentucky, we have our scrimmage game against Tech. and then we go to Atlanta. Win or lose I think these young DAWGS have done a great job.
GO DAWGS and GATA
GO DAWGS and GATA