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
War Dang Dawg
November 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
Good article. Putting aside rooting interests for a moment, the notion that any team is so good that it is a sure thing against a team that is 10-2 (7-1) is a bit ridiculous. LSU may well beat Georgia, soundly. Or they could end up like the ‘96 Nebraska team or the ‘01 Tennessee team or the ‘98 Kansas State team or the ‘03 Oklahoma team that went into conference championship games as huge favorites and got their rear ends handed to them. Every dog has his day.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
COACHES POLL believes you are a FRAUD also:
Nov. 27, 2011
Rank Team (first-place votes) Record Points Last week’s poll
1. LSU (59) 12-0 1,475 1
2. Alabama 11-1 1,411 2
3. Virginia Tech 11-1 1,291 4
4. Stanford 11-1 1,289 5
5. Oklahoma State 10-1 1,245 6
6. Houston 12-0 1,096 7
7. Oregon 10-2 1,041 9
8. Boise State 10-1 1,033 8
9. Michigan State 10-2 941 10
10. Arkansas 10-2 937 3
11. Oklahoma 9-2 882 11
12. Wisconsin 10-2 852 12
13. South Carolina 10-2 833 13
14. Georgia 10-2 816 14
15. Kansas State 9-2 681 15
16. Michigan 10-2 658 16
17. TCU 9-2 534 18
18. Baylor 8-3 457 20
19. Nebraska 9-3 390 22
20. West Virginia 8-3 295 23
21. Clemson 9-3 286 17
22. Penn State 9-3 192 19
23. Southern Mississippi 10-2 173 NR
24. Florida State 8-4 86 NR
25. Cincinnati
Marilou
November 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
Now it makes sense! This was written by a Georgia fan! Most of us in the South know that the Tigers are going to beat the little uga puppies! GO LSU!
Intown DAWG
November 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
01HAWK
And you are a fan of whom?
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
Lard Bucket………….Who is Bill O’Leary?
ADman missing your medication today?
Danny
November 27th, 2011
5:18 pm
Ain’t happening dog fans, sorry.
Tide fan
November 27th, 2011
5:19 pm
Jeff=lol….LSU will beat UGA easy.But let the Big Dawgs Dream on.
1eyedJack
November 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
The fact of the matter, Tech fans, is:
Georgia still has a chance to influence the final outcome of this college football season. That makes them relevant.
Georgia Tech has no chance to influence anything (except recruiting and good luck with that), which makes them…….
Jeffy Shultz
November 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
Ga can beat LSU…pigs fly…cows jump over the moon…unicorns exist…the Georgia Pacific Building can be levitated (Jeff was there)….Nancy Pelosi is gorgeous….Michael Moore is slim….
Dagon
November 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
The Dawgs play a few lucky games, two against CRAPPY Auburn and Florida teams, and they think they’re ELITE? A case where fiction is funnier than fact! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!! When you HAD the chance to beat a good team (remember Oregon?) you completely LOST that game. You were exposed in Game One and Game Two.
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
Don D………….UGA gets flagged for a lot of personal foul penalties. I guess they were just bad calls on clean plays ALL the time.
If
November 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
there was a playoff system it is conceivable that a team would lose to another team during the regular season and still make the playoffs, and beat the team that beat them earlier, therefore why is an LSU vs ALA rematch any different. Whoever wins the BCS championship game will be National Champs, not the winner of a conference championship game, just as it would be in a playoff system.
Really could you envision a playoff system this year that would not include ALA.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 27th, 2011
5:22 pm
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best!
Sic”em DOGS!
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
“Georgia still has a chance to influence the final outcome of this college football season. That makes them relevant.”
HA! How? By being nothing more than a “speed bump”? Hilarious!
brandon(b-low)
November 27th, 2011
5:23 pm
All i’m saying is let VA-TECH or OKIE STATE have a chance if they win their conference!!!! You just cant say they cant beat LSU… cause nobody knows!!! Bama had their chance and couldn beat em…… Another reason for all this mess is the pre-season rankings, its a lot easier to consider urself a great team when u lose as a top 10 ten than top 20-25 team!!! Preseason polls should be pulled!!!!!!!! flaws flaws flaws
catlady
November 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
I think it will be all over with by the middle of the second quarter. I hope I am wrong, but I think this will be akin to a behind-the-woodpile thrashing.
Sunshine Falcon
November 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
Remember GA has the athletes and hopefully the fact they already played, in the Dome, will help.
The Dogs just can’t turn the ball over and they must play equally physical, with LSU.
Then this game is winnable, for Georgia.
Tom
November 27th, 2011
5:24 pm
Remember, GA’s “signature” win is against Ga Tech. Of the 10 wins GA has the opponents winning per cent is just 45% not counting 1-AA Coastal Carolina. Good game against Auburn but still a 7-5 team. LSU rolls.
UGA Alumni
November 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
Fans are a little delusional about LSU’s recent history with UGA, ole Richt has owned Mr. Miles. Les Miles is 1-3 against Richt and the Dawgs, his only win in Athens two years ago. They won by a touchdown against a horrible Georgia team. One of the Dawg’s 3 wins included a Tiger beat-down at the vaunted Death Valley. Georgia has much more than a punchers chance against the Tigers, and you’ll see it when the line comes out.
As for the Tech and other SEC haters on here, I really do wish you had a championship game or something meaningful to occupy your time. Instead you’re taking time out of your day to talk trash about a team that has already beaten yours. When you watch the game on Saturday notice all the freshman and sophomores on the field playing for UGA, take a deep breath and get ready for the beat-down next year.
Closer than the experts (ESPN bobble heads) think. GO DAWGS!!!!
Don Draper
November 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
@UOAD — Ok, please cite the many “personal foul” penatlies that Ben Jones has received? Thought so. You are just butt hurt because of the turf picture. Your boy Jay Finch #50 took a guy’s knee out on the first play of the game with a blatant cheap shot that was meant to do exactly what he did. So, you can get off your high horse on Ben Jones.
If
November 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
I think you would want the two best teams playing in the NC game and right now that would seem to be LSU and ALA
Gorilla Biscuit
November 27th, 2011
5:26 pm
I want to give a shout out to all the Georgia Tech fans who could find the time to take their noses out of their calculus books and post negative trifles, over and over.
Somebody must have let on we were giving away free liquor.
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
See VA TECH and their schedule. If you had won one of the two that you lost you would be at # 3 more than likely due to the SEC Status.
VA TECH had a weaker schedule than UGA. Here is who the HOKIES BEAT:
APP STATE
EAST CAROLINA
ARK STATE
MARSHALL
WAKE FOREST
GEORGIA TECH
BOSTON COLLEGE
NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA
MIAMI
They are # 3. Now that would be a travesty if they made it to the BCS Championship
They are the biggest FRAUD of any team in the standings.
DUKE
Dagon
November 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
Coastal Carolina returned your call. They declined the Dawgs offer to become part of the SEC East conference. They feel an SEC team should actually have to WORK for the title – not pick out high school teams to play and then boast how awesome you are after the win. Come on dude! We’re talking SEC! Sorry.
Return to Glory
November 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
If the defense can stand tall for 4 quarters anything is possible: GO Dawgs
joe
November 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
The SEC powers that be and the officials will not let LSU loose this game. They have too much money and PR hype not to have and undefeated team in the BCS national Championship game.
DantheMan
November 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
You’re right…the Dawgs ARE a much better team now than they were in September…BUT what? Did LSU just go into maintenance mode? No, sir…they got even better…playing the toughest schedule in college football…beating 7 ranked opponents…and winning all of their road games in some of the most hostile stadiums in the country. Does anyone really think that Les Miles and his team are going to overlook Georgia and take them lightly on their way to the BCS championship? What arguments are currently being offered on Georgia’s behalf are the same ones offered on behalf of Arkansas…and we all know what happened to them. As an LSU alum, I am looking forward to a competitive, well-fought contest between 2 SEC heavyweights…it may be close, but the outcome will not be in doubt. Oh, and by the way…when was the last time LSU lost a game in the Georgia Dome? Think about it!
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
@IntownDawg…..
“TampaGator Why stop at 18 of 22 or whatever? Why no mention that with all those years of domination, GA still leads the series by 8 games? Guess stats are only good for you when they meet your criteria Oh well…. nothing new”
Well……my criteria was about “one season not making a trend” and every game in a series is not a trend either……but winning 18 out of 22 is a trend…..and losing 24-20 and going 6-6 in one season is not a trend……and as posted….if you don’t believe me, check Georgia’s record and performance last year…..and then this year.
In order to understand a logical post, you have to think logically, not emotionally.
flatsdawg1
November 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
The Dawgs have had an awesome season since game two, and it really doesn’t matter who they have played, they have won them all and earned the right to play the best team in the land. I had my doubts as everyone in the Bulldawg nation. did after game one, but after game two, I could see this is a team that will get better every game and it has with unity and coaching. They have a golden opportunity and could very well catch LSU sleeping at the wheel. Rest in Peace Mr. Munson
bamaguy
November 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
We’ll see. Not that I wouldn’t like to see Georgia beat LSU, just can’t see it happening. And everything I read says LSU is going to the NC game even if they lose to Georgia.
Destin Dawg
November 27th, 2011
5:32 pm
TampaGator… I hate if for you.. but Tebow is gone.. Meyer bailed out.. you’re stuck with DumbA$$ Muschamp and Fat A$$ Weis… I’m excited for the Dawgs and the Noles… Good luck with Tenn. and Vandy though.. Go Dawgs beat LSU !!
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
5:32 pm
Hey dumba$$, UGA Alumni (must be with honors)
“Les Miles is 1-3 against Richt and the Dawgs, his only win in Athens two years ago”
Name the 3 losses.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 27th, 2011
5:33 pm
“Remember, GA’s “signature” win is against Ga Tech. ‘…..’ Good game against Auburn but still a 7-5 team. ….”
I wouldn’t consider GT our “signature” win.
Awbun lost to Clemson, LSU, Bama, Arkansas, and Georgia. Four ranked teams and an ACC also-ran.
GT lost to Miami, Virginia, VT, and Georgia.
Awbun>GT
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
JB…..
I don’t know many people in GatorNation who have “doubts” about Muschamp as the Gator head coach. Most of us are very excited about the new culture and the success blueprint he is using in Gainesville to take Florida back to the top. And we are certainly excited about the 70% very talented freshmen and sophs that are on this roster (only 72 of 85 current postions filled by the way). Florida is very talented and good on defense. The offense needs a lot of work….and Muschamp and Weis are already on that job.
But…..I do know a lot of Georgia fans who have a lot of doubts about Muschamp….but GatorNation is not concerned about that.
Poleesemenses
November 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
Die hard Dawgs fan here and I think they do have two chances of beating LSU. Slim and none.
aubie-won-knobi
November 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
LSU will rock anyone in their path. LSU has ALREADY won the BCSNC..all this playing to prove they’re #1 is just proper protocol. The game simply has to be played. No way VA Tech, Boise, Okie, Stanford or Oregon even manages to stay close enough to taste LSU’s dust!
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
Destin Dawg….
Yet another classy and highly intelligent post by you. Congratulations. No other response required.
Dumbo
November 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
5150 UOAD…you are sack of crap…sore loser…but, hey it’s still 31-17..at least that’s what scoreboard at Grunt Field said yesterday…………….
UGA Alumni
November 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
wtf: 1-2 I was off by a year…
Technically Correct
November 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
Yes, Georgia can beat LSU, but only if Hell freezes over!
Intown DAWG
November 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
@Tampa
Yet again you selectively picked numbers that met YOUR criteria and purposely left out what didn’t
Do you might want to revisit your own reasoning and logic?
yes UF has been on top of the series as of late but that window in the entire series doesn’t tell the whole story
You guys lost this year…. It is ok
Plain and simple….. get over it
See you next year in Jax
Jeff
November 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
sssssssss……dayum! That’s some good stuff Isaiah!
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
UGA is 3-2 against LSU
L’s in 03 & 09
W’s 04, 05, & 08
wrecked
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
Dagon, tech’s application into southern conference has been accepted
aubie-won-knobi
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
destindawg..you’re one of those fans than gave Auburn hell what for last year and now you find yourself in what could be a one-time favorable position. Show some intelligence. You sucked last year but this year the Dawgs are much improved. The same will happen for Auburn and Gators so enjoy the cheap sucker punches while you can.
FSU fan
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
Its funny all the UGA supports thats on blog running their mouth thats never been to Athen, Ga. Let the redneck drop-outs have their fun… UGA is so great, thats why they ranked 14th..Who the hell have you beat that was that good…funny dawgs.
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
the 03 was with Saban at LSU
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
Destin Dawg….
I changed my mind. I copied part of my earlier post for you..
“In order to understand a logical post, you have to think logically, not emotionally.”
For you, please add on……”intelligently.”
Dumbo
November 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
5150 UOAD…what’s UGA record against GT….inquiring minds what to know
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
5:40 pm
UGA Alumni
November 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
wtf: 1-2 I was off by a year…
Funny, you added a loss to Miles, not Richt. Geez