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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,469 comments Add your comment
Kaitlin
November 28th, 2011
8:39 am
LSU 35, Georgia 7
The Kool-Aid dreams come crashing down on the dawgturds.
PreyDawg
November 28th, 2011
8:41 am
I am late to the party here so I will explain my reasons on a later blog. But let me weigh in early and say this: All you DAWGS on the blogs quit boot licking Miles and LSU. If we get to see the O-line that we saw against Auburn Georgia will win and win big. It says here DAWGS 42 LSU 24. Yeah, I am serious.
All Saints
November 28th, 2011
8:42 am
Here’s your reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud, a shameful scam that Mark Richt carries on today, almost thirty years later.
Please approach this special moment with awe and reverence as we honor her sacred name.
Marty
November 28th, 2011
8:46 am
The biggest change that CMR needs to make is to stop recruiting the low-class illiterates and thugs who he seems to think will win for him and keep his oversized paychecks coming in. People like Marcus Dowtin, A.J. Green, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, Cornelius Washington, Israel Troupe, Isaiah Crowell, and others too numerous to mention are not team players, they’re “me first” jerks who don’t give a rip about anyone else.
It’s sickening to see illiterate punks like these representing the state’s flagship university.
bulldog steve
November 28th, 2011
8:47 am
If we play a perfect game we have a chance. If we give up an early special teams or pick 6 type score, it might get out of control. What I don’t get is that ESPN is saying that it is already a lock between LSU and Alabama for the BCS. If LSU wins, I have no problem with that. I personally would rather see a rematch of LSU and Oregon, but that is just my preference because I think it would be a more offensive minded game. But if UGA shocks the world, I don’t see how it can be a rematch. I still think that LSU would still be in it, but that should effect Alabama because it would lessen the value of losing in OT to an undefeated team. If the BCS was truly about matching the best 2 teams and UGA beats LSU, and everybody believes that LSU would give the Packers a game, then they should get some consideration. Of course the cart is getting quite a bit in front of the horse. But I am going to be there cheering on the Dawgs!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
November 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Other than Arkansas, Bama’s best win is against a three loss Penn State. Where is that “body of work” that ESPN says you must have to play for the National Championship. No way Bama deserves to play for the BCS, but ESPN have ordained them, so it will be.
Snake Doc
November 28th, 2011
8:50 am
In a word NO!
UGA has only beaten one team with a winning record, Auburn, and my sons PeeWee league team could’ve beaten AU. So thats a nothing win.
Peaking at the right time? Heck if, Our Lady of the Poor, played 10 cupcake games in a row, they would finish 10-2 also.
Beat LSU!
Jeff, what ever you are smoking or drinking you need to stop! Fat, Drunk/Stoned, and Stupid is no way to go through life!
DP
November 28th, 2011
8:51 am
LSU will stuff Georgia’s running game, particularly after Crowell limps off the field after 3 or 4 hits and they have to run Carlton Thomas between the tackles. Once they become one dimensional against LSU’s defense they have no chance. Arkansas is better than Georgia offensively and we saw how well they did on Saturday with 7 points on offense.
LSU by 21.
SLim
November 28th, 2011
8:52 am
UGA can’t beat LSU and Saturday will be a long and sad day for UGA fans. LSU’s second team could beat UGA’s first team. At the end of the day UGA will be reminded again how far they have to go be able to play with the best. Do you really think UGA’s D can hold LSU to 9 points like Alabama did? UGA’s D and Alabama’s D are two completely different teams. LSU will put 10 points on UGA by the end of the first quarter…
bulldog steve
November 28th, 2011
8:52 am
Marty, everybody in the country recruited Crowell. Why are you not bashing LSU for signing Mecklenburg after he got kicked off UGA or for letting Jefferson back on the team for what he did, or Florida for letting the player back on after he threatened to kill his girlfriend?
Evansdawg
November 28th, 2011
8:53 am
Since most of you haters will be sitting at home while the Dawgs are in Atlanta playing in the championship, win or lose, I will be thinking one thing…you will be sitting at home while the Dawgs are in Atlanta playing in the championship.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 28th, 2011
8:57 am
All of a sudden everyone is high on this program, and back to defending CMR…..unbelievable.
This crux of this article and comments are the reason this program has tanked….LSU is going to go through you like sh#$ through a goose. These coaches nor players can hold a candle to the size and speed of LSU, not to mention the superior coaching.
I agree UGA has one of the larges offensive lines in D-1, but that alone is not going to get the job done. UGA has not played a top-tier team all season, except for Boise and South Carolina, and both of these teams handed you your helmets.
There is no doubt that when UGA gets drilled this weekend, that these same cocky bloggers popping off about how UGA has arrived, will be nowhere to be seen next week. If they do arrive, all you will hear about is next year.
LMAO!!!! Go Tigers!!!!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 28th, 2011
8:59 am
LMAO!!!! This article and the blogs associated with it are hilarious!!! Jeff, thanks for the great material…..Go Tigers!!!!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 28th, 2011
9:00 am
We are not haters, only observers of the game. Whenever someone makes a constructive criticism about Athens, everyone is up arms calling everyone haters. Look, I am looking forward to this weekend and watching UGA throttle LSU, the Dogs have arrived and the SEC title is an automatic.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 28th, 2011
9:01 am
The score will tell….
WDE
November 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Lets review shall we we started 0-2 and most Dawg fans myself included thought the wheels had come off the train. And then lo and behold after the smoke clears it seems we have beaten UT,Auburn,UF and the Bugs won 10 in a row and the SEC EAST….man I just love saying that!! Now we will be what double digit underdawgs to LSU and frankly that is as it should be given the schedule LSU has played and the depth they have across the board. But we are getting a chance to play for the SEC championship against all odds, its all gravy folks. However if anyone thinks we have no chance they are gravely mistaken..case in point LSU and Bama bothy played and beat Auburn this year, I suggest UGA beat them every bit as bad as either of those teams. It will take our A game to be sure and we must win the battle of turnover and limit penalties but yeah if the stars align just right we can win this game…Go Dawgs!!
blue
November 28th, 2011
9:12 am
yes, Jeff…and I have a chance to have a threesome with Eva Longoria and Megan Fox…riiiiiiggggghhhhttt
Jim G.
November 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Enter your comments here
Jeff, you are delusional! They have not beaten anybody of note.
St Simons - we're on Island time
November 28th, 2011
9:12 am
If Georgia wins (unlikely), they will be the SEC Champion.
If so, how should they NOT play in the NC game?
Why should 2 teams that are not champions play for a NC?
That’s just stupid. It shows the ESPN hatred of everything UGA.
Don’t fret ESPN, we hate you back.
WDE
November 28th, 2011
9:16 am
@blue nope you have no shot…we do you not so much.
Alphare
November 28th, 2011
9:21 am
WDE, I am thinking betting my house on a LSU win, can you bet your house on a UGA win? That way, we each have a chance to win a house.
Joey
November 28th, 2011
9:24 am
What’s more sickening, Marty (8:46 am), is the apparent disregard for NCAA rules by the state’s largest technical school.
What year will y’all finally get off of NCAA Major Probation.
What, is Tech attempting to become the SMU of the great State of Gerogia?
Clean it up, Tech!
Blackoutanyone?
November 28th, 2011
9:25 am
St. Simons…. U got mudholed by Boise freaking STATE and lost at HOME to USCe. Put down the bottle.
Matt
November 28th, 2011
9:25 am
Dawgs lost to a top 5 team in Boise (2 starting LBs out for UGA in the first quarter) by 2 TDs, hardly a butt whooping. Against S.C. their one time AA kicker missed 2 or 3 chip shot FGs, had two turnovers for TDs, and a DT ran a fake punt for a TD and only lost by 2. S.C. by the way is 12th (give or take one slot) in the BCS? They hardly got beat but S.C. but rather crapped the bed. To label this team as a pretender is just plain inaccurate.
That being said. Crowell has to play the majority of the game or UGA won’t have a chance. With Samuel out they can’t afford Crowell being gone too.
jsmooth
November 28th, 2011
9:25 am
All Aint’s:
What is up with that comment? Line ‘em up, let them play and let’s see who comes out on top. Remember the movie “little giants” or the biblical story of David and Goliath, all it takes is ONE time! Just one time.
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
9:27 am
2 words will cause a loss to LSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mark Richt does not understand the meaning of the first word.
Prevent a ST TD and you have a chance.
But that won’t happen.
Cuz
November 28th, 2011
9:27 am
It is much more fun to sandbag and say we have no chance. Just go along with the LeSU fans. Hey they have a great team. We have a good team. We shall see what happens.
robodawg
November 28th, 2011
9:28 am
I’m with you, Jeff. We’re the second best defense LSU will play this year, and good D always gives you a chance. We don’t have Bama’s running game, but overall our offense is a harder one to stop.
But we do need Crowell healthy. I look at what little Arkansas managed offensively against LSU, and I see a defense that is scary good. Our best chance is to keep the score close and be patient for scoring opportunities to open up.
Alphare
November 28th, 2011
9:28 am
This is how the whole system screwed up. UGA is the 5th best team in the SEC, but they are playing for SECCG. As a result of the screwed up system, a portion of the UGA fans become delusional and think they are the world beater.
If it’s up to me, 2 best SEC teams play in SECCG. At least make it that way when the other opponent is the 5th best team.
Joey
November 28th, 2011
9:28 am
Haha, Snake Doc! But could your son’s PeeWee team beat Auburn WORSE than Bama and LSU did?
Didn’t think so.
But UGA did.
Ever hear of a little thing called s-t-a-t-s?
You should try looking at stats sometime. It would make you look not quite as silly, and uninformed . . .
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
9:29 am
Honey Badger don’t care, Honey Badger eats cobras and cobras are better than our punt coverage team. Sad fact, but true, go DAWGS.
RS Dawg
November 28th, 2011
9:31 am
All together now ” ITS GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG”
Win P.
November 28th, 2011
9:34 am
Will UGA wear those ugly uniforms?
ARdawg
November 28th, 2011
9:35 am
You haterz and posers hope and pray LSU will beat Georgia. You guys are in a very dark place when a defeat of Georgia makes you feel better. Get help for your mental illness you fuggs
2 Cents
November 28th, 2011
9:35 am
Though UGA improved throughout the season; they still only beat crap Auburn and Florida squads and they played no one from the SEC West. Also, they beat Tech, surprise surprise, 10 out of the last 11…doesn’t really seem to be hard of evidence that they can compete with the big boys. Lets not forget that Florida St also beat Florida this year. The Dawgs have a chance to beat LSU…if there plane crashes on the way to Atlanta.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
9:36 am
Yea its possible we could win if
Bobo sticks with plays that are working and not do what he always does and starts calling plays that didnt get us down the field
Has Murray do a lot more play action and if there is nothing there have him take off and run
Oh and please dont throw that stupid pass directly to the sideline
Finally
Do NOT RUN UP THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
screwball
November 28th, 2011
9:36 am
the score will be LSU 56….UGA 3.
and that’s just the halftime score.
morons.
ARdawg
November 28th, 2011
9:36 am
It is GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog!!
Joey
November 28th, 2011
9:37 am
If it “were up to you” Alphare, UGA would be banned from playing football. Geez, do you ever offer anything other than a Tech-biased opinion? Why the jealously?
Last week all you techies predicted a PJ- led upset, because everybody knows, PJ is the smartest coach . . . in the history of football!
Now you are back on her declaring UGA to be the 5th best team in the SEC?
If so, what does that make the Jackets?
day dreaming
November 28th, 2011
9:39 am
It is funny how many UGA fans are daydreaming. SEC East is a weak conference. LSU is going to destroy UGA.
SportsFan31313
November 28th, 2011
9:41 am
Go Dawgs !!!! Sic EM !!!!!
BIGDAWG38
November 28th, 2011
9:41 am
Dawgs roll…27-17!!! Remember what I said!!! Place your bets boys!!! Take the Dawgs & the points!!!!
St Simons - we're on Island time
November 28th, 2011
9:43 am
Tech sockpuppets, that’s just sad.
We’re just not that into you anymore.
Come back in 10 years, make it a “rivalry” haha
Whassup ESPN, does Craig James have pictures of you with a pig?
He’s still not welcome on campus, and ESPN needs to quit w/the hate
If UGA becomes SEC champs, then “we are the champions, my fri-end”
kimmer
November 28th, 2011
9:44 am
There is always a chance but not much of of one when it comes to this game. UGA has won 9 straight, but against perhaps the easiest schedule in the SEC. Did not play LSU, bama, or arkie. Has played one top five and one top 15 team and lost both. Beat two other teams that were ranked at the time they played them and neither of them is ranked now. LSU on the other hand is perfect having played #2 on the road, two #3s along with 4 other teams that were ranked at the time they played them.
In summary, as much as I dislike LSU, they have been tried by fire and came through with the only game in doubt against #2 bama on the road. UGA in comparison has had a cake walk but struggled to put away the likes of Vandy and UK.
Sorry but LSU has proven time and time again this season that they will perform in a big ball game. UGA has not. UGA will fare about like USC did last year against aubie.
Dr. Morpheus
November 28th, 2011
9:44 am
What the LSU fans don’t get is the Dawgs play defense.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 28th, 2011
9:45 am
Small Johnson
Can beat the Middle Tenn and Western Carolina teams, wait isnt that the level of teams Georgia Southern plays
Now it makes sense why he is so highly regarded in the Ghetto of North Ave
Alphare
November 28th, 2011
9:46 am
But Joey, I am now talking about the 5th best team being given a chance to upset the nation’s #1 ranked team in SECCG.
Why give a chance to the 5th best team to play in the conference champ? That tells me the system is totally screwed up. Can you imagine the 5th best team playing in the NC game?
DawginLex
November 28th, 2011
9:46 am
interception dude
You have been predicting we will get “drilled” for weeks now.
I have no idea whether or not we can hang with LSU or not but I’m dam glad we are there.
Richt was toast 8 or 9 weeks ago and most coaches would have folded their tent and gave up and the players would have quit too. Our players rallied around him.
We have all complained about Martinez etc but Richt hired Grantham over all the catcalls from folks like you who said he would fail.
Your constant criticism is boring. We understand you hate Georgia but your predictions have been worthless 10 out of 12 weeks this year.
We drilled Auburn unlike your prediction of us getting drilled.
Just accept the facts that we are playing for the SEC title. i know that does not qualify for greatness in your simple minded world but it is what every team strives for, to get to ATL.
Spaceman Spiff
November 28th, 2011
9:46 am
@ Alphare
That has to be one of the dumbest comments that has ever been on here – 5th best? Geez, I think that deserves the “Do you just say stupid sh!t?” of the year award. By the way, how does 1 – 10 for the mighty jackets taste?
Realist
November 28th, 2011
9:47 am
Ya know people are dogging Tech because their season is over. All you puppy fans need to remember the Georgia will be doing the exact same thing as Tech on the night the National Championship is played. Watching LSU win it on TV.
if you want to watch some real football this weekend check out the GSU vs Old Dominion playoff game on Saturday. Remember GSU has been the most sucessful team against Alabama this year.