B&S SEC Championship preview
Can LSU pull off the improbable? We’ll see at 3:00 ET on CBS.
By: The Waco Kid, The Hammer, Bossman Slim
Georgia looks to dispose of LSU and head into the CFP with momentum to defend their title (Photo via @GeorgiaFootball)
We finished up our regular season picks last week with Bossman and Hammer ending up in a soccer-like tie (we hate it) for first place in the straight-up picks category. Congrats to The Waco Kid for winning the ATS side of the column, but all of our picks were so bad against the spread that his prize is coal for Christmas because we lost all our money and we don’t deserve nice things.
Based on this spread, you would think that UGA should just walk all over LSU in a warmup for their annual trip to the College Football Playoff. But have you watched college football this year? Did you watch USC-Utah last night? Expect the unexpected.
Let’s dig in.
#1 Georgia vs #14 LSU - 3:00 ET on CBS (UGA -17.5)*
Bossman Slim: LSU’s chance in this game is turnovers. In his last few games, Stetson Bennet has 5 TDs and 3 INTs. He’s been good, but not great, and he hasn’t protected the ball as well as he did early in the year. LSU is +1 in TO margin on the year, but in their last three games they’ve been -3 in TO margin. That will have to be better today - they have to protect the ball on offense and create opportunities through turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. Otherwise, I think Georgia rolls. Also if Jayden Daniels can’t go or is significantly hobbled, it would take some unbelievable heroics from Garrett Nussmeier to pull off a win. I don’t see either of those things happening. Georgia’s defense is still the best in the country, and the Dawgs only seem to get off to a slow start when they’re playing someone they expect to walk all over. They’ll be ready for this game and Kirby will be spewing cuss words before they take the field and have them ready to run through a wall. I expect the Dawgs to get on LSU early and never let up. Dawgs cover and go into the CFP as the #1 seed with momentum.
#1 Georgia 45
#14 LSU 21
The Hammer: Here we are, baby. The SEC Championship game. Can LSU find some more of that magic that helped them topple the Tide, or will Georgia suffocate yet another opponent? One big question is the health of Jayden Daniels, who has reportedly been seen in a boot this week, and was noticeably hobbled by the end of the Texas A&M loss last weekend. If he is not 100% and able to use his legs as a weapon, LSU is in trouble. Their entire offense is built around his ability to extend plays with his feet and run out of the zone read. In fact, Daniels is their leader rusher by well over 300 yards on the season. I expect Georgia to really give the Tiger offense trouble, especially in light of Daniels health. On the other side of the coin, I think the LSU defense could give Georgia’s offense some issues as well. The Tigers have to do a better job of stopping the run than they did against the Aggies, but if they can force the Dawgs into obvious passing situations, I could see Stetson Bennett having some trouble and being under a lot of pressure. LSU is a good team, and I don’t expect them to lay down and let UGA steamroll them. I expect a competitive game, but one we’ve seen often with Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs teams where they just suffocate their opponent and win somewhat comfortably. I’ll take Georgia to win but LSU to cover.
#1 Georgia 27
#14 LSU 16
The Waco Kid: LSU is coming off a tough weekend in College Station, TX. Not only did they lose their shot at playoff contention but also got dominated by one of the worst teams in the SEC. Now we all thought A&M had the talent to win but until last Saturday against the Tigers they had been unable to put together a complete game. Their turn around obviously came at an inopportune time for LSU. Georgia on the other hand continued to do Georgia things when they faced GT for the season ender. The Dawgs defense held another team to under 20 points and their offense did well over enough to secure a victory. UGA is on a path of destruction and that will continue on Saturday in Atlanta. While Brian Kelly has done a commendable job with his team they are not an SEC title team quite yet. Georgia takes the cake in this one and floats their way into the big dance. Studson will have three through the air while the backs will add another two on the ground. The Dawgs cover and continue on their path to glory.
#1 Georgia 48
#14 LSU 20