Georgia has far better than ‘puncher’s chance’ against LSU
Aron White, Christian Robinson punctuate UGA's return with school flag . (Johnny Crawford)
This is the column that I didn’t think I would be writing six weeks ago, when Georgia fizzled and nearly self-destructed at Vanderbilt, and a five-game winning streak seemed like the furthest thing from Mark Richt’s mind.
This is the column that didn’t seem plausible three months ago when I looked up at the scoreboard and saw, “Boise State 35, Georgia 21” after looking down on the Georgia Dome field to see a Bulldogs team get beat physically by a Mountain West Conference team and play flat emotionally — the worst possible exacta for a hyped-up season opener.
This is the column that says Georgia can beat LSU.
This is not to diminish anything LSU has accomplished this season. How can one diminish an SEC team going 12-0? The Tigers have played and beaten seven teams that were ranked at the time they played. That includes No. 3 Oregon to start the season (40-27), No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa (9-6 in overtime) and No. 3 Arkansas (41-17). LSU is as legitimate and proven as any No. 1 team that has come along in years.
Which doesn’t mean it can’t lose.
No. I’m not drunk on the Kool-Aid. Something changed in Athens. Maybe the 33-28 escape at Vanderbilt was a wake-up call. Maybe it was just a case of a young team slowly gaining confidence. At the very least, we know players reaffirmed that they believed in — and would follow — their head coach. Because a team doesn’t just rally from a 17-3 deficit to beat its nemesis (Florida), destroy Auburn 45-7 and spin a 10-game winning streak after a 0-2 start because it’s suddenly getting bounces.
After the body-slamming of Auburn, when it became clear the Dogs would win the SEC East, many felt they would have a “puncher’s chance” in the conference title game against the winner of the West, LSU or Alabama. But that short-changes Georgia.
When I hear puncher’s chance, I think George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer. In 1994, when Moorer was the heavyweight champion, he won nine straight rounds against the unranked 45-year-old Foreman. Then he got stupid. Foreman suckered him in. He landed a concrete right hand to Moorer’s porcelain chin. When Moorer looked up from the canvas, he saw little blue songbirds circling above him.
Three months after the loss to Boise State, the Bulldogs return to the Georgia Dome Saturday against LSU. They don’t need to rely on one lucky punch to win. They have become that good. They are playing with a rhythm, a confidence and an edge that we haven’t seen since 2007.
A year ago, when I wrote that Richt deserved to come back this season because of what he had accomplished in Athens, there was a backlash. Many fans wanted him fired. I wasn’t ready to make that leap. But neither did I share the confidence of Richt’s defenders, particularly after the season’s first two games. An unraveling seemed imminent. So did a job change. Clearly, that’s not happening now.
LSU is rolling. But so is Georgia. Aaron Murray is the best quarterback the LSU defense will face this season, and in the last four games he has completed 68 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. The offense is loaded with receivers: Orson Charles, Malcolm Mitchell, Tavarres King, et al. (Just when Georgia Tech figured it had everybody covered Saturday, a freshman, Chris Conley, popped open in the end zone. Chris Conley? He’s UGA’s sixth-leading receiver.)
The assumption here is that with Isaiah Crowell being held out Saturday with an ankle injury, he and Carlton Thomas (who had only a few carries against Tech) will be ready for LSU and provide balance to the offense.
Defensively, the Dogs get better by the week. They throttled the Tech’s option offense Saturday and held the Jackets to 10 points until a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes.
Boise State and South Carolina combined for eight offensive touchdowns in the first two games. In the 10 since, Georgia has allowed only 12 offensive touchdowns. That includes one or none in seven of the 10 games. This is the second-best defense LSU will face this season. They managed only three field goals (one in overtime) against the only opponent with a better one, Alabama.
Georgia doesn’t have a mere puncher’s chance in the SEC championship. Georgia has a legitimate chance. The team that will play in the Georgia Dome on Dec. 3 is not the same one that played there on Sept. 3.
Some things you just don’t see coming.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,469 comments Add your comment
Alphare
November 27th, 2011
8:03 pm
TampaGator,
have to disagree about LSU loss scenario.
If LSU loses, BAMA will be #1, LSU #2.
If LSU wins, BAMA will be #2, LSU #1.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:04 pm
Simply……if the team that played Arkansas on Saturday….comes to Atlanta……LSU plays Bama in the BCS national championship game and Georgia goes to Orlando. But it is hard to ge up like that two weeks in a row….and Georgia better hope that is the case. But…..if Georgia plays a near perfect, controlled game…..they can possibly win vs. LSU…..but I would not lay money on it in Vegas….would you?
Thomas
November 27th, 2011
8:05 pm
God is Great! GO DAWGS!
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
8:06 pm
Eric C……..you know he was cremated right? That is because EPA laws would not allow worms getting lung cancer or liver cancer
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:06 pm
Alphare…..
My senario is based on Oklahoma State beating Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game…..if Oklahoma wins….you could be right. But not if OSU wins that game. If LSU loses to Georgia and OSU beats OU….then Bama will play OSU for the national title….in my opinion.
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 27th, 2011
8:09 pm
Formula for beating LSU: Hold LSU under 150 yards rushing. No screw ups on special teams. No turnovers and at least 100 yards rushing for the Dawgs. Put the heat on Jefferson and make him throw interceptions. I just hope Richt doesn’t play this game to conservative on offense. When Georgia gets inside the 20 they have to go for TD’s. and not field goals. I am concerned about Tyson’s ankle and of course Crowell. This is the biggest game of the year so far – even bigger than Bama vs LSU. Bama lacks a balanced offense and LSU loaded up to stop the run.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:09 pm
5150 UOAD……
You are crass to the ultimate……without any class or redeeming value if you continue with that stuff.
va dog
November 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
Cassius Marcellas Clay shook up the boxing world when he knocked Sonny the Bear Liston out cold in the Miami Arena. No boxing expert of the time gave him a shot to win one round. LSU meet Mr. Clay, GEORGIA IS GOING TO SHAKE UP THE NCAA FOOTBALL WORLD.
TigerinATL
November 27th, 2011
8:11 pm
UGA will loose badly, but you can be happy with your season. We’re going on to BCS title game to claim crystal ball for SEC again. GEAUX TIGERS!
Jim007
November 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
Anything is possible and the Dawgs do have a chance to win.
Georgia has Not seen a team of this caliber in 2011 and may be in for a rude surprise.
However, the odds may be 100-1, but they do have a chance !
Big Dawg
November 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
Fellow Dawgs our team matches up well with LSU, some of those posting have not watched the games because if they had they would see what I have seen. This team, yes they are a team, has grown in confidence this year and are playing really well. Especially on defense, Coach Grantham and his staff seem to be able to recognize what the other team is doing and make adjustments as needed. This is because we have guys who understand their roles and what needs to be done.
Will we beat LSU, only YAHWEH and JESUS know for sure, but in my humble opinion the Dawgs will win or at least make a real game of it.
Go Dawgs
Alphare
November 27th, 2011
8:13 pm
TampaGator,
you could be right. But both the coaches’ poll and Harris put OSU at #5, although AP puts it at #3, while AP doesn’t count. That tells me OSU has no chance to be #1 even if they win.
Remember Bama was only dropped 1 spot after loss to LSU. I don’t believe voters will drop LSU much even if they lose to the dawgies, considering the body of work they’ve done thru the season.
jerry
November 27th, 2011
8:13 pm
Can they? Yes. Will they? Is this some kind of sick joke?
Retired Soldier Dawg
November 27th, 2011
8:14 pm
TampaGator and Eric C you shouldn’t waste your time with that piece of crap “5150 UOAD”. Idiots like that don’t deserve a response. Just continue to be class acts yourselves.
alpha male
November 27th, 2011
8:14 pm
even if georgia wins, it ain’t goin to the sugar bowl…lsu and bama in a rematch…only 2 teams from a single conference in bcs games…maybe a rematch with ucf???
BIG MIKE
November 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
I’VE GOT AN IDEA!! FOR HOW ALL THIS CAN BE SETTLED AS FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE…….
Scenario #1
IF
LSU vs. UGA—————-UGA WINS
OKLA vs. OKLA ST——-OKLA ST WINS
THEN
NC GAME============ UGA vs. OKLA ST.
SUGAR BOWL======== LSU vs. ALABAMA II
Scenario #2
IF
LSU vs. UGA—————-UGA WINS
OKLA vs. OKLA ST——-OKLA WINS
THEN
NC GAME============ UGA vs. ALABAMA
SUGAR BOWL======== LSU vs. OKLA ST or VT or STANFORD
Scenario #3
IF
LSU vs. UGA—————-LSU WINS
OKLA vs. OKLA ST——-OKLA ST WINS
THEN
NC GAME============ LSU vs. OKLA ST
SUGAR BOWL======== UGA vs. ALABAMA
Scenario #4
IF
LSU vs. UGA—————-LSU WINS
OKLA vs. OKLA ST——-OKLA WINS
THEN
NC GAME============ LSU vs. ALABAMA
SUGAR BOWL======== UGA vs. OKLA ST or VT or STANFORD
And let the voters sort it out for themselves after all the bowls have been played.
Frank
November 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
If it’s a LSU/Bama rematch, it will be hard to root for either team. Not a fan of Miles or Saban. Oh well, at least a SEC team will be (once again) crowned champ in that scenario. I have a feeling that Bama will take this one. Don’t see them making the same mistakes that they made in the 1st game.
Vain Jangling
November 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
More cowardly than crass.
And enough’s enough.
Schultz, time to ban this little boy to the dunce cap corner.
Bob LaBlah
November 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
Who was that guy with the ponytail that Richt was making out with after the AubARN game?
alpha male
November 27th, 2011
8:16 pm
its over at halftime dawgies…murray will have 3 picks by then, IC will be in the showers, carlton will be planted at midfield…Les Miles headed for yet another title…
Alphare
November 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
I mean “OSU has no chance to be #2 even if they win”.
Scholarship
November 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
BCS- LSU/Bama-a game that will be much better offensively the second time around
Sugar-
Cotton-USC
Outback-UGA
Captiol- Arkansas
Music City Bowl- Vandy
Gator-Auburn
Chic-Fil-a – Florida verse Clemson
Compass Bank Bowl- MSU
I know this sounds weird, but The Cotton Bowl really wants USC, and The Chic-Fil-a will get UF.
With Auburn going to the Gator Bowl.
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
Eric C we will not get into my beliefs on the Humanistic and Pagan burial rights. Suffice it to say the body is supposed to Naturally return to the earth. The person in not in that grave.
va dog
November 27th, 2011
8:17 pm
TigerinAtl this is Gerorgia’s BCS championship game, and should you lose and you will, it’ll be pure enjoyment hearing the pundits backpedal on LSU being the best in the country. Georgia has nothing to loose and everthing to gain.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
8:20 pm
HARRIS POLL just came out for 11-27-11 and here we go:
1. LSU
2. BAMA
3. STANFORD
4. VA TECH
5. OK STATE
It will be BAMA vs LSU………………………………..Sorry UGA FANS
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
November 27th, 2011
8:20 pm
@Special K: You talking about drug testing bloggers or your family members? “We got some people that need drug testing………………”.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
Sorry Big Mike……
Georgia is not going to the NC game this year…..not going to happen….
Alpha male……
If Georgia wins….only two will be……Bama in the NC game and Georgia in the Sugar…..LSU goes to the Cotton….which is not part of the BCS formula, I believe.
The Lapinsky Files
November 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
alpha male: “even if georgia wins, it ain’t goin to the sugar bowl…lsu and bama in a rematch…only 2 teams from a single conference in bcs games”
So, I will take a wild guess and conclude you are not a BCS executive. Yes, more than 2 teams in a conf can make it to a BCS game. Go back to trapping gators son, and leave the thinking to those that know how.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
BIG MIKE ……………………………..It is already setteled.
BAMA vs. LSU for BCS…………………………………..Sorry DUDE
Chuck
November 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
LSU is next week. For now let’s celebrate the renaming of the new Mark Richt Field at beautiful Bobby Dodd Stadium. We own it. Loved the picture of the flag in the middle of the field.
Hunkerdown
November 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
If the Dawgs defense can keep us in the game then yes we have a chance but got to keep the score down.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
©2011 Harris Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Top 25 Team Rankings of the Harris Interactive College Football Poll
New York, N.Y. — November 27, 2011— Today’s Harris Interactive College Football PollSM shows the Top 25 results compiled from rankings submitted by the Harris Interactive panel of former coaches, players and administrators, and current and former members of the media. LSU remained undefeated and kept the top ranking by virtue of its 41-17 win over Arkansas, while second-ranked Alabama beat Auburn to maintain its position. Stanford, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma State round out the top 5 while previously third-ranked Arkansas dropped to ninth after its loss to LSU.
blord
November 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
bring it on you dope smoking puppies
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
Tampa……..you think they will put Bama in the MNC even though they lost to LSU? I find that hard to believe. I would still think LSU gets to play the best other 1 loss team and that has to be BAMA still
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
Schalorship……
Florida is already locked into the Gator Bowl….done deal…..vs. Ohio State……with all the Meyer stuff to jack up the hype for the game…..the Gator Bowl really wanted Florida and got them. Nature match up……Florida vs. Ohio State.
Florida haters…….I guess Ohio State is down forever as well.
Scholarship
November 27th, 2011
8:25 pm
The only way that LSU does not play in the BCS is if UGA were to just lay the wood to LSU and even then it would be close in keeping them out.
Dawg48
November 27th, 2011
8:25 pm
Tampa gator
It will be bama lsu
No matter who wins
RILO
November 27th, 2011
8:25 pm
This game feels just like the 2003 title game. The one we lost by 21 points. We were ranked 5th then. Just sayin
anneks
November 27th, 2011
8:26 pm
While the Dawgs made great strides in their last few games, they are not the caliber of team that can beat LSU this year.
Scholarship
November 27th, 2011
8:26 pm
Tampa Gator, word out now is that is not happening after the lack of FLorida fans in Gainesville last night. Just reporting what is being posted here in Jacksonville.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:26 pm
5150…….thanks for going back to mature with your last post…..
Yes, if LSU loses to Georgia…..they do drop and Bama will not….based on OSU beating OU. If OU wins, everything is up in the air and a mess…..if it isn’t already.
Bad Dawg
November 27th, 2011
8:26 pm
dawgraider,
That has got to be the dumbest comment I have seen all year. I love the dawgs but I hope you dawg fans come in with low expectations. Just look at this game more like a measuring stick to how much UGA football has really progressed this year. If the dawgs win I will be befuddled. My goal is to see if the dawgs D can hold LSU to around 300 total yards and no more than 21 points.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
November 27th, 2011
8:27 pm
@Bob Lablah: It was yo mama and it wasn;t just CMR. He just happened to be in her lloonnnnngggggg line that bight. One would think you would have recognized yo mama you being her pimp and all.
PT
November 27th, 2011
8:27 pm
I will admit I was one calling for Richt’s head after last season and the results of this team’s first two games. How quickly things change. Richt did a great job of keeping everyone focused, but I do believe that Georgia has the best defensive coaching staff in all of college football.
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
8:28 pm
Georgia is behind USC and Tech is still in the top 25 in the new BCS rankings.
va dog
November 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
Malcom Mitchell will be SECCG MVP the tigers have no answer for his abilty to separate from their DB’s.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
Scholarship?????
Lack of Florida fans in Gainesville last night????? There were approx. 84,000 of them and 10,000 or so FSU fans….as normal……..the place was completely sold out…..and very, very loud. I am not sure where you get your information. My brother had my tickets and told me the place was packed and as loud as ever…..very loud.
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
I know USC(the real one) can’t play in any post season games, but they don’t even figure them in the rankings at all?
Scholarship
November 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
Hate to make some folks mad, but the most overrated teams in the top 10:
Oklahoma, lost to many players to injury in recent weeks
Houston- any team would line up groud it out, keep the ball from them and get a win.
Boise St- sorry UGA fans, but this team is not that good on the road.
VT- decent team, but not ready for Stanford or Oklahoma St.
A Guy
November 27th, 2011
8:32 pm
I’m sick of it. Why play the game? $$$$$$$$$$$$ ESPN, or BCS, have it all figured out. LSU/Ala play for National Champs…Quit supporting ur school. $$$$$$$$$$ Quit paying $300 a ticket.$$$$$$$ Find out who wins/loses in the local papers, the next day, and we might get a play-off system…BCS is a joke.