LIVE: Georgia leads LSU 10-7 at halftime, goes for SEC title
Here's Georgia stepping all over LSU -- the logo -- before the game.
No, I don’t know if Isaiah Crowell is going to play. (Figured that question might come up.)
Welcome to the SEC championship, or, as we like to call it: “The Game That Nobody Three Months Ago Figured Would Include Georgia.”
As coach Mark Richt said at his news conference earlier this week, “Well, I guess we could be out recruiting today.” This being the better alternative.
Les Miles and Mark Richt prepare to arm wrestle for SEC trophy.
There’s not much left to write. You can go to AJC.com/Sports/UGA to catch up on some of the terrific blogs written this week by Chip Towers and Tim Tucker, and I’ve listed the links to some of my columns down below.
But here are a few bullet points going into the game (4 p.m. kickoff).
• The Georgia offense: If the Bulldogs (13½-point underdogs) can’t run the ball against LSU, their chances to pull an upset significantly decrease. No running game means no effective play-action and little chance of keeping the Tigers’ defense off-balance. That said, Aaron Murray has been strong of late and will need to continue to spread the ball around to all his receivers.
• Crowell: We’re probably not going to know until kickoff whether he is playing. Yes, rumors have swirled most of the week on Twtter and message boards about the strength of his health, his head, an altercation that may or may not have taken place in practice, a suspension, etc. All I can tell you for sure is that nothing has been substantiated. Coach Mark Richt has remained mum on the status of all of his running backs since Wednesday. Crowell was at Friday’s walk-thru at the Georgia Dome and is on the Dogs’ dress-0ut list. Athletic director Greg McGarity said Friday he knew nothing of a suspension and told Chip and I, “I’d know, wouldn’t I?”
• Barring turnovers, I think Georgia keeps this game close for at least three quarters. The Dogs’ defense has been strong against the run (which is LSU’s strength). The question is what happens in the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ depth on the line and at running back enables them to rotate players and wear down opponents. LSU has outscored teams 115-28 in the fourth quarter and 229-61 in the second half.
Finally, I know a lot has been made of the fact that LSU probably will be in the BCS title game, win or lose (barring an unlikely blowout win by the Bulldogs, which could make voters think twice about putting the Tiers in). I doubt that will have any impact on the Tigers’ play. They’re undefeated and they have a chance to win an SEC championship. Those two things alone will keep them motivated.
Yes, Georgia has a legitimate chance to win this game. But it will take an almost error-free performance, and even then maybe a couple of turnovers.
That’s it for now. If and when we learn something more about Crowell, I’ll post it here.
Georgia blogs from this week:
• Georgia’s ascent a positive sign for future
• After Boise State, Murray foresaw Georgia in SEC title game
• Georgia has far better than ‘puncher’s chance’ against LSU
By Jeff Schultz
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
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3,008 comments Add your comment
CL
December 3rd, 2011
8:36 pm
Tampa im saying he seemed like the only one running with heart out there.
Wayne
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Well, Well, Either as I and others have suspected for years the college football post season is scripted or this Georgia Bulldogs team is the worst bunch of young men to call themselves football players in the history of the game. But alas I digress. I told my entire family and friends who were over the script for the game and how it would pan out. After games end they are looking at me bewildered. But why is the question I have. For the past ten years if you have any sense whatsoever you can easily see through the froth and write the script yourself. I gave the information of all games to a statistician i know and well, well, the odds of the games as a general rule being played as they were is, ready…., 1 in 874,784,892,649,327,560,233.29. I think not. You saw tonight a total, complete, down to the grit, dirt in your face, exhalted annihilation of a team. But wait, lets let the half expire and with a stroke of the wand we can completely reverse this idiotic outcome that just so happened in the first half.
I doubt I will watch college football or any sports again, at least no like used too, because there is too much money involved and when that happens weird things begin to happen as they constantly have the last ten years, or since the BCS (err….Here’s who will win this year) council was developed. I say council because it is the humans who decide everything and nothing more. And if they can develop the correct storyline they can rake in BILLIONS, hell maybe TRILLIONS. So to think that sports is not on the up and up isn’t ludicrous, it is probably more probable than we all could ever believe (which is what would sell it to begin with).
As I said, it was supposed to turn out that way (as I properly wrote down and showed everyone, or Georgia should close it’s thespian society and go hide under a rock on the moon. I could not change the way the game was played any faster if I had a switch! If anyone wants to know the outcome of the bowl games and all of next years postseason games, just look at the schedule and open the books to see where money falls. Or you could ask me, but since I have a certain thing for making money now, why give it up, do your own homework. Good riddance to what used to be a great concept full of integrity, traditions, and plain old gut it out sportsmanship. Those were indeed the days.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Am I dreaming or did Bobo come out the first two possessions in the second half thinking he could run it? Am I dreaming that?
Hurst
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Edvis, what do you care? You guys live in your own world anyway.
DAMON
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Bring back Caleb King, he still has eligibility
TampaGator
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
For you down and out Dawg fans…….”It’s a Wonderful Life” is now playing on NBC. Watch it. It will cheer you up.
private plane watching
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
That 10 game winning streak looks a little different now— UGAY UGAY UGAY. Where are you guys???
wareagle
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Again UGA showed how classless they are. No need to try and fight after you get raped. LOL War Eagle!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
Did we have a moral victory in this one like Boise and SC
Edvis
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
I hope you are right, AZDawg — was Crowell’s longest gain that 15-yard penalty? How sorry can he be? Dogs do not have a running game, I don’t care if Munson was calling the plays from the press box in the sky, they couldn’t run it against a great D.
Lar Munson
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
Let’s all hunker down and head back to athens.
priceless
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
the fleabags embarrassed on national TV. doesn’t get any better than this!!
Wrecker
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
@Wayne: Man, take off the tinfoil hat and enjoy the game.
Pat
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
Haha, so for the Dawg fans, which regular season game got you ready for this game? Was it Coastal Carolina or N Mex State.? Maybe when or if you play actual good teams instead of cupcakes, then you can make some progress but until then, be prepared for these loses.
Snake Doc
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
And this time I am gone.
I dislike the Orange CEO so much as head coach I can’t root for the Dawgs no matter what. They will never be anything of note until the Orange Man is gone. Sorry, I have put up with too many years of mediocrity at the hands of the orange man. When eh first got here the sky was the limit! Now, well you see the best this team will ever be with the Tan Orange CEO Man as CEO of this team. Heck, I can’t even call him a coach.
I want him fired, and until he’s gone I won’t root for anything football that has to do with UGA, Because nothing great will ever come from his tenure here.
42 UNANSWERED
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Has anyone seen UGAs 2012 and 2013 schedules??? One word…YIKES…especially in 2013!
Lar Munson
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Crowell (aka “…ere!…”) is god!
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Wayne……………….nobody reads 1000 word essays on here. Direct, quick insults or bitching is best.
bart
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Richt is a good coach but nof of the caliber of Sabin and Miles. Wish we could get Peterson, but I fully expect Richt to get a contract extension.
TampaGator
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Well…..time to say good night. I wish Georgia had made the same game as the first half in the second half…..but the “Jeannie in the Bottle” just stopped granting wishes, I guess.
dawggone
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Coffee bluff…when you gone fire Coach Eldridge?
DawgGone
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
“Great job Georgia…I see great results for the next few years. Team is very young and to go from a 6 win season last year to this year’s results is rather remarkable IMO. Talk schedule all you want but you still have to go out and compete week in and week out. To everyone who chooses to continue to spread their negative energy, I say continue because our team is young and look at the amount of talent we are returning. Keep on hating haters and Go Dawgs!”
And ten years later after no SEC championships, a couple of ten win seasons…etc
Great job Georgia…I see great results for the next few years. Team is very young and to go from a 6 win season last year to this year’s results is rather remarkable IMO. Talk schedule all you want but you still have to go out and compete week in and week out. To everyone who chooses to continue to spread their negative energy, I say continue because our team is young and look at the amount of talent we are returning. Keep on hating haters and Go Dawgs!
The Dream Team
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Can keep dreaming….
UGA is irrelevant outside of the state of GA.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
JB
NO your not dreaming your witnessing what I have said a long time on this blog Bobo always goes away from what is successful count on it
And count on 2 losses every year because of it
5150 UOAD
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
POWER RUNNING GAME for UGA?
Did we see that tonight?
Ga TECh, Kentucky, Auburn, and Florida is UGA’s resume?
Lar Munson
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
IC, UC, We all C 42-10.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Richt to CBS leaving the field….” anybody get that tag number”………LOL
Wrecker
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
UGa made some strides this year, but it was not really a 4 (maybe 5) game improvement over last year. The schedule really did make a difference. UGA will be good, or even better, next year, but may win two fewer games.
Lar Munson
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Bobo and St. suntan for President.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
@Tampa Gator
Just saw Charlie Wiess at the mall ,he had on a damn Santa suit.Merry Christmas!
Matt
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Ok state is about to get that bcs bid and give the sec just 1.
Made famous by Herschel
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
Good 1st half, but once again Dawgs not in the same league as upper echelon of college football, sorry puppies. Ten game win streak only possible due to weak schedule.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
TampaGator………..Haven’t you said good night a couple of times already?…LOL
42 Unanswered is right
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
No more Easiest Schedule in SEC title for UGA in the coming years…
UGA had 3 chances to beat top 20 teams and lost to all of them.
We can beat up on cupcakes (Except Vandy), but can’t beat the good teams.
Does not fare well for the coming years looking out our schedule and the fact that Murray and the running backs will be running for their lives as we lose 3 seniors on the O-Line.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
JB
NO your not dreaming your witnessing what I have said a long time on this blog Bobo always goes away from what is successful count on it
And count on 2 losses every year because of it
But hey love 10 win seasons here even though we lose in big games every year
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:45 pm
OK, I was proud of the offensive line in the first half, but we have NOOOOOOOO depth and they just couldn’t keep the best defense in college football at bay all night. The first half was beautiful, be we just need depth……and a NEW OC
Lar Munson
December 3rd, 2011
8:45 pm
ATLANTA, GA: In other news, UGA OC Bobo was rushed to Grady Hospital immediately following the 42-10 woodshed beatin bu LSU for emergency surgery to remove a hobnailed boot.
Edvis
December 3rd, 2011
8:45 pm
That was a snappy comeback, Hurst. If that is your real name
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:47 pm
Grantham may bail. He wants a new 3 year deal … AND a raise…..and me thinks McGarity ain’t offering neither……Here we go again. ( yes, he has one year left on his deal)
Hurst
December 3rd, 2011
8:47 pm
Edvis, my name is as real as yours.
Morgan
December 3rd, 2011
8:47 pm
Just like we said in 1981…we’ll get em next year! Wow. I am F-ing dismayed and depressed! All these over-babied players are a bunch of losers! Crowell…quit! Bozo…go get a rope. Richt…resign.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:50 pm
Guys…………….Don’t take this to hard. They killed everyone except Bama. Arkansas is a pretty good team….and they dismantled them to….And that Peternio guy calls a pretty good game.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 3rd, 2011
8:51 pm
Just felt like UGA didn’t have that killer instinct on offense in the 1st half. D kept giving them chance after chance and we literally dropped the ball.
Belcher
December 3rd, 2011
8:51 pm
Do you think Murray might be a little short???
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 3rd, 2011
8:52 pm
Well all is well UGA just won another 10 WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
JB
December 3rd, 2011
8:52 pm
Those real quick two first possessions in the first half really started the slaughter. I’ll will admit, Richt coach’s to not lose vs win. The offense came out and looked like crap.
Jase
December 3rd, 2011
8:53 pm
So-called Dawg fans crying on a blog – pathetic. Real Dawg fans would have been crying at the Dome.
chris
December 3rd, 2011
8:53 pm
dream team.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 3rd, 2011
8:53 pm
2011 10 WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Steve "The King" Spurrier
December 3rd, 2011
8:54 pm
Who dat say they gonna beat my Tigers?