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
Dumbo
November 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
5150 UOAD…hey…I only went out with her once…..tell her she wasn’t very good
GT
November 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Chip we played the worst we could play and they played the best they could play… And beat us by only 2 td’s
Ralph
November 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Jeff, are you really serious?? No way in heck UGA beats LSU. LSU is going to rout UGA bad in the GA DOME!
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
John
November 27th, 2011
5:55 pm
It’s amusing to see a Gator fan show up on here and rag on UGA and its fans. Really dude? Your team is an embarrassment to the SEC.
Who’s an embarassement to the SEC? FLA? With their 2 (TWO) NC’s in the last 10 years? Hilarious!!!
Shine
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
The Sheepdawgs have no chance in hell. Rating their defense on the creampuff schedule they had is idiotic. Only Tech and Auburn have winning records of the teams they beat, 3 others are 6-6 if you call that a winning record. Its even worse when you get into conferance records. The teams they beat have a combined record of 14-42. Only Auburn was 4-4 and Florida 3-5 and the rest had 2 conferance wins or less.
JB
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
A one loss Bama team being allowed to replay LSU will make some other one loss teams howl. Bama is probably better, but they had their Chance. Bama will play them IF TV allows it.
t-bone
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
All defense if UGA can hang? If the dawgs show up like they did against Auburn, you can count on a win. UGA 10 LSU 7. If UGA gets nervous(please let’s hope not), it will be over before half time. LSU 53 UGA 14.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
Dawg Tired — Tyler Wilson is good but I’d take Murray over him.
More is Les
November 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
There’s not a single player on LSUs team that’s under 7 feet tall. They all run 3.9 or less 40 yd dashes. They can crush a football with their bare hands. They would have defeated the Viet cong in mere minutes, found bin laden in days, and can kill a bear with a plastic spoon. They would beat the Green Bay Packers 60-0 if the played….yadda yadda yadda…..the game still has to be played folks!
These are 18-22 yr old kids just like at UGA. We have more than a fighting chance and I suspect the nation will see that come Saturday. Go Dawgs!!
Clueless
November 27th, 2011
6:00 pm
South Carolina is ranked ahead of UGA and beat them during the regular season. Looking at UGA’s schedule and who they have beat this year, they don’t deserve to play for the SEC Championship. LSU is going to clean your clock and ALL you rednecks will be crying to fire CMR all over again. SOUTH CAROLINA OWNS THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND DON’T FORGET IT!
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:01 pm
UGABugKiller — Feel cleansed now? Haha.
Dumbo
November 27th, 2011
6:01 pm
Clueless…another nerd has joined the conversation…the score is still 31-17 ….nerd
Northern Sympathizer
November 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
I think everything hinges on Georgia’s running game. A one-dimensional Dawgs can’t beat LSU. That basically means everything is riding on Crowell. yikes.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Randy — Another Munson crack and you’re out.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Sugar Hill…
I think the Dawgs have a shot against LSU…..but they have to play their best game of the year without any turnovers or stupid plays. LSU is very tough and deep.
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
Jeff
Tyler Wilson is good but I’d take Murray over him.
Why? Wins? Wins over winning teams? Exactly what?
Tom in ATL
November 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LxlnmGC7m9Q
PTCDAWG
November 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
I am glad I got home from Wal-Mart in time to see the Dawgs shut Paul Johnson’s mouth one more time! On Johnson’s wait til Saturday to see how the ACC compares to the SEC, 3 games were no contest and FSU beat a way down Florida Team, so CPJ, I think you have your ansewer!
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
Schultz……
I didn’t realize Richt had been fired and a Spurrier like coach had been hired. I guess I need to read more.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
Procrastinator — Anybody who’s read me over the years knows I don’t write anything to intentionally appease (or displease) anybody. I write my opinion. I didn’t predict a victory for Georgia but I believe they have a legit chance.
Destin Dawg
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
Spurrier said ” UGA beat us all over the field.. we got lucky “”
K Conway
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
We can rope some dopes!
Steve
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
Gator fans are delusional to think they will be “back” next season. Now onto more important matters, the case for LSU’s strength of schedule is apparent. However, Bama’s schedule is similar to UGA’s (except for playing LSU). Why are haters on here talking about UGA’s supposed soft schedule, but also proclaiming Bama to be #2 behind LSU when they played virtually the same teams? UGA does have a shot but the realist in me says that LSU will win but it will be closer than many think. I hope that UGA proves me wrong and brings their A game to win the game. I honestly believe that UGA will be somewhere in the top 5 next season given that most players will be back and if everyone stays healthy. Win or lose, I support this team and am proud of their accomplishments this season. GO DAWGS!!!
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
I would take TYLER WILSON over Aaron MURRAY any day of the year. HANDS DOWN.
Elmer
November 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
I’ll be rooting for UGA and hope you are right. I think you are wrong. Sure I do think UGA has a “chance” to win, but it’s a small one. It would be hard to watch the way LSU has played all year and believe it’s more than a small chance. Even in an off day against Alabama, LSU found a way. And it dismantled Arkansas (the Hogs have a better offense than UGA by far, better QB, and much worse defense than UGA). I’m not an LSU fan but I’ve watched them several times this year and we’re talking an elite team.
The Dawgs have come a long way this year and it’s great that we can even be debating this. But LSU is a physically dominating team that has few if any weak spots. So it’s no knock against the Dawgs to say that it would be a miracle win.
I very much hope to be eating these words after the game.
t-bone
November 27th, 2011
6:06 pm
It’s obvious you don’t pay attention to UGA football, we didn’t us the ground game against Kentucky or GT. And, what was the result? WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWs
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
Ole Yeller — Yeah, I don’t think LSU will look past Georgia, any more than it looked past Arkansas. If UGA wins, it will have to earn it.
cattle dawg
November 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
5150, you actually showed up today unlike most of your pals. To bad your team didnt show up yesterday.
CoastDog
November 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
Thanks Hockey Puck. A s good as Jesse Outlar and way better than Furman ever ventured. I Didn’t think you had it in you.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
Reggie — Read comment above.
UGA Alumni
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
WTF: I made an incorrect statistical post and you elected to call me a dumba$$…and then continued to try and belittle me when I corrected my post. Remember when you poke a Dawg in the mouth you might get bit. You Tech fans have been learning that the hard way for years. If you were respectful it would have been reciprocated.
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
we didn’t us the ground game against Kentucky or GT. And, what was the result? WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWs
Try that with LSU.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
Dap01 — It was alarming to see empty seats in end zone of Tech section. Seeing so many red shirts wasn’t surprising though.
Bama Bill
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
Yes the DAWGS do have a chance – at least until the kick off – but down hill. LSU 35, Dawgs 10 ?
5150 UOAD
November 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
Don’t worry the REFEREES will Job UGA and make sure the SEC keeps LSU unblemished heading to the MNC game.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
John….
Where exactly did I “rag on Georgia” on this blog site? Maybe you should read more carfefully and respond less emotionally. My posts were to Georgia fans “ragging” on Florida…..
And I do believe Florida is about where Georgia was last year….except Georgia had a less impressive record than Florida last year. But you can “think” and post whatever you want….that is your right……but you might want to be factual with your posts.
aarh
November 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
Perrogrande- Yeah, the O-Line is thought to be the weakness on the team, bc they had to shuffle some players in the off season, & Sturdivant got hurt & couldn’t play this yr. Thus, the shuffling. They also had to move J. Anderson who had been moved from the O-LIne to the D-LIne last yr., but they ended up having to move him back to O this yr. in order to try to build some depth. It’s like Jeff said, UGa is better now, & when you have an inexperienced line like that, then it’s obvious that it’ll get better as the season goes along. UGA has one of the biggest lines in the nation, & it’s not bad, but it just doesn’t have a lot of depth. However, that hasn’t seemed to have stopped them so far. It’s understandable that they could get whipped earlier in the yr., & I know LSU has a great defense, but don’t judge a team that’s gotten better by the fact that they struggled earlier in the yr. Also, I know there have been some more recent games, such as KY, where it appeared the line did go back to struggling, but it really appears to me that UGA plays up to the level of their competition, which seems to be something that they normally do. They played lights out against AU & GT, & those teams may not be great, but a lot of people were picking UGA to lose, & they not only beat them, but they did dominate them. I know this appears to be UGAs biggest test, & I’m not saying UGA will win, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that UGA does have a chance.
John
November 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
@wtf: Hold onto to those glory days buddy. Yeah it’s been many years since UGA won a NC but I am not only of those fans looking to the past. Apparently you like to it seems… chomp chomp loser.
Mountain DAWG
November 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
What a fun time this is and a great atmosphere being at the SECCG. No pressure on the dogs; they can play loose. I don’t think the results will affect LSU playing in NCG. Win or lose, they will still be there. I still think LSU will win, and I’ll keep saying that because if they do, I won’t be let down. But if UGA wins– SEC Champs would be good enough for me while the Tigers and Tide can fight over the scraps.
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
UGA Alumni
“You Tech fans”
Wrong again.
tim scott
November 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
Yes and Santa and the Tooth Fairy really are real. Get over yourself UGA has 2 chance slim and none and slim left town. Please tell me exactly who have you beaten a bad Florida and a worse Kentucky both of whom you struggled with. Georgia recieved the good luck of having the easiest schedule in the history of the SEC. All bills come due and the Dawgs payment is due Saturday at 4pm in the dome.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
Dougmo2 — If Georgia’s defense “cannot tackle or cover a corpse,” as you say, how are they No. 5 in the nation?
evansdawg
November 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
Tech fans calling UGA a “joke of a program.” Saying “Tech will win big, BANK IT.” Just a couple of weeks back you were chest-beating about how ‘we beat the #8 team in the country.” Good Lord….give it up. Guess what? The Dawgs just laid a whipping on the team that ‘beat #8.’ You guys are a joke and the triple option is for teams that lack talent to give them a chance. It is YOU that has a joke of a program. You are an engineering school, but have a toilet for a stadium. Go away….you suck. Enjoy the Sun Bowl. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
ADMan
November 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
5150UOAD…You still hung like a field mouse?
wtf?
November 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
@John
And you hold on to yesterday, dreamer.
TampaGator
November 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
Steve……of the 22 starters for Florida last night……15 were freshmen and sophs……..sound familar….check Georgia last year…..except Florida has a better record this year than Georgia did last year?
01HAWK
November 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
Steve……………………………….UGA strength of schedule is no where close to BAMA.
BAMA # 2
UGA # 41……………………………….Last in the SEC. Everyone in the WEST is ahead of course due to they have to play LSU, BAMA, and ARKY.
Go and look at my prior rankings I posted. LSU is ahead of BAMA on their schedule mainly due to LSU IS #1 and they beat BAMA.
Until the EAST/LEAST can get back to where they were 3-4 years ago then UGA will not get any attention.
UGA Alumni
November 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
Then whatever you are it’s a lesson learned for you…and have a good night.
The Nature Boy
November 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
LSU -9.5 according to Wynn Casino…the dawgs get 3pts because the game is at the Ga Dome..so really the spread is 12.5pts..sounds about right…JS did a great article; the sentence that should have been in BOLD was the statement that he ASSUMES that IC and CT are healthy at RB…so true…Dawgs have no chance without a running game…
Belcher
November 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
Any chance CMR to Penn State????