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
LogicalUS
November 28th, 2011
3:27 pm
This is more of the UGA homer silliness.
In what world is the glass jaw, Isiah Crowell, going to play more than a qtr against LSU? No running game.
So Aaron Murray is going to be running for his life on Saturday and you thought the mistakes he made against the solid SC defense were bad, LSU’s defense of NFL men will have multiple scores.
LSU wins this one going away.
Instant Dawgma
November 28th, 2011
3:41 pm
Go Dawgs….Glad to have the shot at the SEC….We’ll see what happens all you smack-talkers.
Instant Dawgma
November 28th, 2011
3:43 pm
Last 10 weeks have put smack-talkers back in their closets, where they belong….Just have to add to that list this week.
miles
November 28th, 2011
3:49 pm
Oh yeah…the last ten weeks of Coastal Carolina, mighty Kentuck, wimpy Florida, terrible Boise St…oh yeah, that’s right Boise beat you guys!
HAHAHAHA
November 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
Where’s all the Technerds this week? They’re big with their mouths (Tired of putting your foot in yet? We can shove something else down your throats.)
The stingerless pests can join the lizards, kitties, and others back in their closet. That room is getting full. Dawgs will throw some more company your way. And we won’t leave the light on for ya. All of you deserve to be in a dark closet, far, far, away.
Hey Schultzie
November 28th, 2011
4:01 pm
Glad that “Sack” contest is finally done….Twas brutal man!
db
November 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
I’ll take that sucker bet.
?
November 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
@miles Boise was 13 weeks ago dipsh..a lot of wins since….
times have changed….too bad your jealous hatred doesn’t change
Jamie
November 28th, 2011
4:11 pm
I hate to say this, but some of our fans are being such sore losers… we did play like crap, but Georgia is just a better team this year. I had thought our pass defense was pretty good, but Murray made them look like a freaking high school team. Why did we keep trying to trick UGA by throwing?? Our strength is running, that’s why we’re on OPTION team. Yes, this loss sucked and I hate losing to UGA, but man up and say we got our butts kicked. Last year’s game we really hurt ourselves but this year even before the interceptions we were losing and our defense was pathetic. Time to regroup and finish off with a good showing in the bowl game!
David
November 28th, 2011
4:25 pm
UGA played one of the easiest schedules in SEC history…They played basically 3 Top 25 ranked teams all year…Lost 2 of them and GT was at 25 and probably was overranked. UT, FL, and AUB all had down years…They squeaked by SEC East perrienal powers Vanderbilt and Kentucky…all the while LSU beat Oregon, West VA, AL, and Arkansas.
So as Georgia says in years past…”We play this tough schedule”…RIGHT. The championship game may be a game for the 1st quarter….with LSU beating the champs of the SEC (L)east
Harold
November 28th, 2011
4:29 pm
i believe
Jacob
November 28th, 2011
4:34 pm
David, what’s wrong, did Georgia beat your team? You sound like a sore loser.
Jacob
November 28th, 2011
4:35 pm
31-17, 24-20 and 45-7.
Bayou Tiger
November 28th, 2011
4:36 pm
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Whoopido
November 28th, 2011
4:39 pm
C’mon man! Whatcha thinking? LSU by at least 21….
GeauxLSU
November 28th, 2011
4:42 pm
Georgia DOES have a chance to win. There is still a chance LSU may just blow it off and stay in Louisiana. There is a chance that snowball will not melt in Hell as well. And of course there is always that chance we all will win the lottery. So have hope knowing …..There is always a “chance”.
Jacob
November 28th, 2011
4:47 pm
I don’t think we’ll beat LSU, they are the best team in the country. But I don’t buy that LSU is going to put 40+ on Georgia. LSU will win, but it won’t be because they score a bunch of touchdowns, Georgia’s defense is good. LSU 27 UGA 14.
Rick Matte
November 28th, 2011
4:57 pm
Just look who Georgia played this season & the division record of the teams in that division. There is nothing else to say!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacob
November 28th, 2011
5:00 pm
I wonder how many of the Georgia haters on the blog today are Tech fans and how many are actually from LSU or teams that beat us. Tech, Florida and Auburn still bitter because their teams lost to us. Go Dawgs! Like I said, I don’t expect us to beat LSU, but don’t expect the game to be 40-0 either. And I have no problem with the LSU and BAMA rematch, it was a great game the first time around!
fansince74
November 28th, 2011
5:01 pm
UGA has seen nothing and I do mean nothing like what they are going to see on Saturday. LSU has way too much depth for UGA.
GATiger
November 28th, 2011
5:08 pm
This is dilusional. Has this new, tough UGA defense beaten any decent offense? LSU just held the SEC’s best offense to 10 points, and before you annoint Murray and his receivers the second coming of Drew Brees, Marcus Colston, et. al., do you really think they’re in the same category as Tyler Wilson, Wright, Adams and Childs? The Dawgs’ best hope is that the Tigers take the weekend off and look forward to January 9, and that’s just not happening with a Miles coached team.
bobo
November 28th, 2011
5:15 pm
HEHEHEHEHE.You all are on crack. LSU rolls!!!!
Dulusional "Mutt" Fans
November 28th, 2011
5:27 pm
GATIGER,
You are right, the ONLY way the Mutts win is if lsu looks past this game and concentrates too much on the national championship game….
Scott
November 28th, 2011
5:35 pm
Puppies ???
BEAT LSU !!!????
ARE YOU INSANE ?????
THAT’S THE BEST JOKE I’VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.
LSU BY 40…NO PROB.
brokebackvol
November 28th, 2011
5:47 pm
Sorry to rain in your wheaties, but UGA beating LSU is about as ridiculous as Kentucky beating Tennessee…oh wait, bad example. OK, a chance exists but not a very good one. LSU is a juggernaut at this point in the season.
cadawg
November 28th, 2011
5:51 pm
good work everybody– logic, grammar, spelling… it’s all here.
Angry Jacket
November 28th, 2011
5:58 pm
What do the UGA fans who are fortunate enough to know one, call Ga. Tech fans??? BOSS
tiger4ever
November 28th, 2011
6:10 pm
Throw Boise State, So. Carolina, Alabama, Oregon and W. Va. out of the equation.
Tigers & Bulldogs played 6 teams in common. Tigers averaged 38.3 pts on offense to Bulldogs 26.5. Tigers gave up 7.3 pts on defense to Buldogs 12.5. Tigers dominate on offense and defense. Tigers blow out Bulldogs in the second half 31-10.
Broger9
November 28th, 2011
6:19 pm
Great article Jeff. I have been feeling like LSU would blow us out, but what you wrote makes a lot of sense and we might just pull off a big upset. Let’s hope so!
Don
November 28th, 2011
6:31 pm
Unless LSU has a complete meltdown, they will win by 14. Mark it down! Ga”s QB will get a lot more pressure then GT gave him – and no QB is very good under pressure! Jeff trying to give BD fans some hope.
dail
November 28th, 2011
6:34 pm
Keep dreaming UGA, you’re not even the best team in the SEC East. I guarantee you South Carolina would beat you again if you played.
LSU will crush you.
dail
November 28th, 2011
6:37 pm
I work at a hospital and the only time i have come across a Ga Tech alumni other than my brother was a doctor working at the hospital and a full bird Army Colonel. However, i did come across one UGA alum and he was working at a Target store. No lie.
BILLY JACK
November 28th, 2011
6:39 pm
This is just great-all these tech nerds on here pretending to be somebody else.Georgias gonna lose this and that.Techies are the worst people we play and the biggest cowards.We will show up and it wont be a blowout .
PurpleNGold
November 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
Poor Georgie fans. Someone’s always pickin on you aren’t they? This week we are all Tech fans posing as LSU fans. Last week we were all AU fans, a few weeks before that Gators. Yep it’s a big conspiracy against the poorgie, boregie Georgie fans. Quit your crying, grow a set, and take this weekend’s beating like men. Just like last year…
I hate UGA
November 28th, 2011
7:12 pm
Why don’t all you poor folks call the bookies in Vegas and put some $$$ on the spread since you all think they have a chance.
No Respect
November 28th, 2011
7:58 pm
The Dawg are getting no respect from the media—look for Richt to use this to get the players motivated! UGa will pull a huge upset—mark it down! Ga 30 LSU 27!!!
Scott Case
November 28th, 2011
7:58 pm
UGA ha snever feared LSU, and we’ve won our share of big games against these guys. Saturday will be no exception. We win, and Mark Saint Richt ascends into heaven immediately following the game.
ddawg
November 28th, 2011
8:23 pm
@PurpleNGold
I was at the game last year, Your mighty world beaters escaped in the final seconds. Not quite the Whupin your small brain remembers.
Robert
November 28th, 2011
8:39 pm
GA weak schedule will finally catch up with them in the SEC championship game.
LSUTigerinATLANTA
November 28th, 2011
8:41 pm
UGA will lose by at least 30! They barely beat some of the teams in their schedule which had losing records. It’s laughable to read you “dawgs” saying UGA will whip LSU. Dream on!
Swampdawg
November 28th, 2011
9:20 pm
Coach Richt or The Hon. Coach Dooley needs to get Pat Dye to make a public announcement that he didn’t think the Dawgs were “Man Enough” to beat LSU. I think the Dawgs have a chance. Duplicate the Auburn game and you will win. Don’t make any foolish mistakes.
Givin ya a bone 2play with
November 28th, 2011
10:28 pm
Ok… If Crowell decides to play… If he doesn’t get High…If he does’t tap his freakin helmet.. AKA ” waving the white flag ” If Bobo does’t call the plays.. If C. Thomas does’t smoke crack the nite before the game… If A Murray protecs the ball and does’t repeat his performance like the one with SC… If Murray doesn”t thro picks and wave the ball like a pom pom…Then I say we have a chance!!! The defense will get it done…
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Joey
November 29th, 2011
12:20 am
How can u say Georgia doesn’t have a chance. Lsu isn’t playin Arkansas defense this week. They’re plain prob the second best defense they’ve played (behind bama) and a offense that’s just as good as there’s
TheAntiMe
November 29th, 2011
2:14 am
Another good thing is that no one outside of us folks here in Georgia believe that the Dogs have any chance at all against LSU. Sometimes it’s a very good thing if the heavily favored team comes in believing that the game is already in the bag.
I can’t wait to hear that Glory Glory song playing over and over this weekend down at the dome.
PurpleNGold
November 29th, 2011
5:10 am
ddawg, I was talking about all of the beatings you received last year, the ones your small brain doesn’t seem to remember. You didn’t play LSU last year, genius. But who was that community college you lost to in the Liberty Bowl?
PurpleNGold
November 29th, 2011
5:13 am
Lol, only Georgie players, coaches, and fans think the game is “in the bag.” Les Miles never thinks that.
When you Georgie folk tune in with your rabbit ears from your double wides, you’re gonna see a whole new world of football that you didn’t know existed.
Whiskey Breath
November 29th, 2011
8:21 am
One word Jeff. Homer!
Bucolic Bulldawg
November 29th, 2011
8:47 am
Angry Jacket,
Your image of BOSS must be in the same vein as Kelsey Grammer’s-an emotionally and ethically bankrupt, neurodegeneratively challenged vestige seeing only a lot of LOSS on the horizon.