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Outcome of SEC Championship won’t impact LSU’s BCS opportunities

11:32 am November 28, 2011, by Chip Towers

Welcome to championship week. Raise your hand if you expected Georgia to be in this position back on Sept. 11th. That was the day after the supposedly devastating 45-42 loss to South Carolina. To his credit, Bulldogs’ coach Mark Richt did, as his comments after that game indicate.

Since then the Bulldogs won 10 straight, culminating with Saturday’s 31-17 win over Georgia Tech to conclude the regular season. Now it gets real interesting!

Georgia’s season began with a rather lackluster loss to No. 5 Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Now the Bulldogs head back and will face an even bigger challenge in No. 1-ranked LSU in the SEC Championship Game. No one’s giving them a chance to win. The early lines I’ve seen have the Tigers favored by 11.5 to 13 points. So Las Vegas is expecting a rout.

What I think is most interesting about Saturday’s game is the apparent lack of bearing it will have on LSU’s BCS national championship hopes. Virtually every prediction out there has the Tigers still playing in the title game even if they lost to Georgia and even if that loss was a blowout.

There is even some speculation that LSU could clinch a share of the national title with a win over Georgia on Saturday via The AP vote.

That has brought forth some previously unfathomable reasoning. LSU coach Les Miles was asked this past weekend if he had considered resting some of his players and kind of taking it easy for the SEC championship game. Miles’ response was predictable.

“Just so you know, there is no way this football team goes to Atlanta and doesn’t play its best,” he said.

The truth is, the bigger the stage, the better LSU has played this season. The Tigers’ season began with a game against a top 5 Oregon team in the “Jerry Dome” in Dallas and they’ve had “monumental” contests all year, with trips to West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. They seem to do their best where the lights are brightest.

“We’re used to being on the big stage,” Miles said Sunday. “I think our guys translate the glare of the lights to making plays in the game. I think they did that against Oregon in Dalaas and they’ve really done it right on through Alabama at Alabama. So we’re kind of comfortable in domes and we’ll look forward to seeing if we can the exact same thing.”

Expect the Bulldogs to get LSU’s best shot.

So does anybody here have a problem with the SEC championship game being rendered moot with regard to the BCS title? And does anybody believe Georgia has a chance in this game?

Meanwhile, we here at the AJC are treating it as a meaningful game. We have a lot of great coverage plans so be sure to check back regularly for updates as we’ll post everything online as quickly as we have it. And feel free to offer suggestions for stories or particular subjects you’d like to see covered.

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573 comments Add your comment

MagnoliaDawg

November 29th, 2011
9:39 am

Amazing that these two schools were dominant in the 60’s and for some reason ESPN and the BCS a.. lickers are from that era………….Just a thougth. Lets go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey BOBO Prove us wrong this weekend!!!

Misty From Macon

November 29th, 2011
9:44 am

Gorilla – get back to belching and scratching yourself. Oh and smelling your own farts — that’s what you dog fans are good at.

Gorilla Biscuit

November 29th, 2011
9:56 am

You must be talking about my brother. He ain’t a silverback yet. Tell us your team, so we’ll know where all the jealousy and hate comes from.

Brian

November 29th, 2011
10:19 am

EVERYONE!!! please stop hoping and thinking Georgia has a chance in this game.. Who has Georgia Beaten? Really… Yea there 10-2, but couldn’t beat Boise St Or S.C. This game isn’t going to be close. Now the UGA fans keeping thinking positive, but you have NOOOOOOOO chance in this game. Have you seen these boys play?

True Dawg Fan

November 29th, 2011
10:36 am

bama 1

November 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
I just love to watch all the whining about “Bama in the BCS Championship game. The 2 best teams is the rule. Want to go next year? Then get your act together. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow how dumb are you???

Why dont you go back to 03 and read what your coach said about not winning your conference means you shouldnt play for NC??? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm thats interesting.

Or go to the other side and rad what Miles said in 07 about us not winning SEC so NC???

So it seems that both coaches agree not SEC title no NC, so if we beat LSU both schools should pull themselves out of the title game bc based on what THEY have said they wouldnt deserve to be there.

Bama fans enjoy watching the 2 best teams in the SEC on Saturday. Hopefully the BCS messes up puts u in it and you get crushed, then next year we finally get a playoff!

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
10:44 am

LSUTigerinATL

November 29th, 2011
8:49 am

Can UGA win? Of course, anything is possible in football. Will they won? No chance. LSU is stronger, faster and deeper at every position than Georgia and just about every other team in the nation besides Bama. LSU will win by at least 30. GEAUX TIGERS!
————-
“Can UGA win? Of Course, anything is possible in football” is followed by “will they won? No chance”.

First off, NO WAY LSU wins by 30. None, ZERO! They are good and are favored for a reason. But 30? I haven’t seen the people in the show “Swamp People” taking crack, but I guess it’s available.

Don’t worry Dawg fans, we have been hearing the same crap ALL year now.

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
10:49 am

Misty apparently hasn’t seen Bama’s schedule much. Beat a typically overrated Penn State team, an Arkansas team that isn’t even as good as last years team then lose to LSU.

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
10:53 am

Brian, every team has a chance on any given Saturday. That’s why they call them upsets. Like, Texas Tech beating Oklahoma, for instance, would be a much bigger upset than UGA beating LSU. Iowa State beating Okie State was a much bigger upset than if UGA beats LSU. It’s funny how many times we have heard the “who have they played” line at the end of the year yet all through the year all we heard was “no way Georgia beats those guys (insert team name from schedule here).

jnes

November 29th, 2011
11:18 am

If Georgia was on an 11 or 12 game winning streak, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. The consequence for not being prepared week one is no National Championship. Deal with it and enjoy the game Saturday, crybabies.

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
11:26 am

I guess reading comprehension is not taught in schools these days. For the record, I have seen almost NO ONE calling for UGA to be in the BCS title game. NONE. It’s called missing the point. Most everyone on here is calling out the hypocrisy of having Bama go to the title game without winning the SEC when their own coach has said in the past that it should never happen. Or in 2007 when they all said the same thing, including Les Miles, about UGA. No one here believes UGA deserves that shot this year. Been a good year for the Dawgs but a BCS title game? No way. That’s it, that’s all there is to it.

Sissie Phillips

November 29th, 2011
12:36 pm

I have a question!If Georgia beats LSU in the SEC game, then where does that put Georgia?

janet fruge

November 29th, 2011
1:36 pm

Enter your comments here

janet fruge

November 29th, 2011
2:01 pm

I am a LSU fan as well as a Georgia fan.I was born and raised in Louisiana and now reside in Georgia. The only time I don’t pull for Georgia is when they play LSU. I too believe that Georgia doesn’t get the respect that they deserve. I think if they had played some stronger teams things might have been different, however, they haven’t gotten much respect in the past, so I don’t know if my theory holds much weight. I also have a problem with the way things work with the BCS system. Why should LSU play anyone for the championship when they are the only undefeated team except for Houston? If they should play anyone, Houston would be the only option for me.

1969 Graduate

November 29th, 2011
2:47 pm

Go, Dogs!

I’m not an LSU fan anymore. When I was a kid in New Orleans, I was a Tulane fan first, and an LSU fan second, but, thankfully, I attended, and graduated from UGA (and other schools later). So, sometimes I might cheer for LSU now, like, for instance, if they were playing Florida, or Ohio State.

For the most part, I think LSU is an excellent team this year. I hope they bring their A game to Atlanta. It will be wonderful seeing the Bulldogs have an opportunity to play the Number One team in the nation, according to the BCS.

Do I think the Dogs can win? Of course! The Bulldogs are a very good team, and beating LSU is not impossible, even for a team less good than UGA.

Will the Bulldogs win? Who could possibly know the answer.

Remember this – LSU is Number One according to the BCS – but the game isn’t decided by the BCS, or by the talking heads at ESPN, or by the fans.

We’ll see how it all goes down on Saturday, and it should be a good game. I wish LSU the best. I want them to play their best.

When Georgia wins, and they still let LSU, and Alabama play for the National title, we’ll all know what most of us already knew – the BCS is a joke.

There will still be people saying that Georgia hasn’t beaten anyone, because LSU was “over ranked.” That’s just how it is.

We need a playoff! Either that, or the he11 with the BCS.

Go, Georgia Bulldogs!

geauxatltigas11

November 29th, 2011
3:08 pm

All of you Dawg fans are whining about not getting respect…if you want respect you gotta earn it. That means beating Boise State to open the season in practically a home game at the GA Dome. That also means beating a South Carolina team in your home opener that was beaten by Auburn. Yes you’ve won 10 in a row, but against WHO??? You avoided the 3 juggernauts in the West this year and barely beat UK, Vandy, FL, and TN. I can’t believe some of you on here think that UGA matches up so well with LSU, REALLY??? Have you watched the games? Do you know what LSU did to FL, TN, UK? Oh, and not to mention Oregon, West VA, and ARK? I know you are all passionate, but use your heads!

BIG BROTHER

November 29th, 2011
3:08 pm

@ little”aubie”brother,42-14!!!!! ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!!!! NOW SHUT UP!!!!!!

Come On!

November 29th, 2011
5:29 pm

Sissie Phillips – ” Georgia beats LSU in the SEC game, then where does that put Georgia?”

That puts them in a wet dream….. ha.
All jokes aside they are not going to win.

What I suggest is UGA fans lower the bar, just hope to be in the game at halftime.

Can’t wait till game time!!!

godawgs82

November 29th, 2011
9:14 pm

Misty….you are sadly mistaken. UGA fans do not expect UGA to go the the NCG if UGA beats LSU. UGA would go to the Sugar Bowl as the SEC Champion.

UGA fans are livid that UGA was kept out of the NCG in 2007 because we didn’t win our conference. Now, that “rule” is being ignored for LSU (if UGA beats them) and Alabama.

Toccoa

November 29th, 2011
9:16 pm

Miles, Saban, and even Meyer blow with the wind based on what they want to happen. Now Saban is saying they need to choose the best teams. In ‘03 he said the teams needed to be conference champs. No, he wasn’t talking to Alabama about their job while coaching the Dolphins. I would rather have a coach with integrity then bogus Natioal Championships.

UGA simply needs to win

November 30th, 2011
10:37 am

UGA needs to play smart ball, and play with emotion and mistake free and HOPE that LSU has a bad day and overlooks UGA.

IF UGA can win, then it all falls into place. UGA would go to the Sugar Bowl and if they were to win, easily would end up no less than # 3.

# 3? Yes, remember, back in August we had too many unknowns and we only wanted to defeat BS. Well, we did not BUT we are in the HUNT now for the SEC TITLE.

Get real UGA fans. I am very happy to have a shot at the SEC TITLE as this is the very best place to be at this time of year. End of story.

UGA class of 71 & 73

iCapstone

November 30th, 2011
9:06 pm

I attended the famed, “Blackout,” in ‘08. As I walked through the UG campus, pregame, watching the students trash the place, with empty beer cans and bottles everywhere, it was impossible to not notice the sense of arrogance and entitlement among the Georgia faithful. Of course, Bama completely spanked Georgia’s arses, shutting down Knowshon Moreno, making him look more silly than his mohawk haircut. Yet, when it was all over, the arrogance was replaced by shock and awe. No longer did I detect any sense of entitlement. I only saw humiliated, confused fans.

Fast forward to the present. I’m now reading your remarks and detecting the same sense of arrogance I noticed prior to the Blackout. You’re telling us that a 1-loss, Bama, who has not lost a game in regulation this season, isn’t worthy of playing in the BCSCG. Yet, your team is worthy – one who has lost to Boise State and South Carolina? Unbelievable…

Remember these words: LSU is going to beat your team unmercifully. Late Saturday night, you’ll all be reduced to being humiliated, confused fans, once again – much to my entertainment.

Dawg fans suck

November 30th, 2011
9:33 pm

Really? UGA deserves nat’l title shot? You think okie state is deserving over ‘Bama? Good grief, I hope LSU hangs 50 on you jerks……….RTR and suck it!!!,!,!

Greg

November 30th, 2011
10:07 pm

Uga lost its manhood when Bama blacked them out. I love your coach’s humility but he is not up to the new sec standard of coaching.

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