Georgia hosts No. 4 LSU today in a crucial early season conference game for both teams. The Tigers are the highest ranked team to visit Athens since Florida came to town in 1995. Head coach Mark Richt is 1-1 against top ten opponents in Athens (a 2002 win over No. 10 Tennessee and a 2008 loss to No. 8 Alabama).
For the Bulldogs, beating No. 4 LSU today will require at least an even turnover margin. UGA has skated by this season in its three wins despite losing the turnover battle in each game. But today, for the first time this season, the Dawgs will face an LSU team that is just as talented as they are.
Georgia is favored by four points, which means that someone likes the Dawgs’ chances. But after watching the first four games of UGA’s season, you have to wonder if the Bulldogs can put together a complete game without some of the sloppy play that has plagued this season.
Quarterback Joe Cox is currently fifth in the SEC in passing efficiency and total offense, but has also thrown five interceptions thus far. Cox needs to stay away from forcing the ball today as the LSU secondary is by far the best he has faced. The senior from Charlotte needs to distribute the ball to playmakers like AJ Green, Orson Charles, and Rantavious Wooten, but also try to stay within himself and not force the ball.
The Bulldog defense, on the other hand, needs to feed off the momentum from last week when they held Arizona State to just 17 points and 204 yards. In last year’s meeting, the Tigers hammered the Georgia defense for 188 yards rushing and 309 through the air. Charles Scott rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Scott has been much less effective this season along with the rest of the LSU running backs. Keiland Williams leads the team with just 184 yards while Scott has totaled 179 this season. Georgia needs to help LSU continue their troubles rushing the ball and force quarterback Jordan Jefferson to beat them.
ALIVE AND KICKING
UGA may boast the best combination of piunter and kicker in the nation. Drew Butler leads the SEC with an average of 50.1 yards per game while Walsh is 8-8 in field goal attempts. Walsh has kicked the longest SEC field goal this season with a 53 yarder against Oklahoma State.
SERIES HISTORY
Although Mark Richt is 3-2 against the Tigers, LSU leads the all time series 14-12-1. However, UGA has won six of the last eight and the last three in a row.
LSU coach Les Miles is 0-2 against UGA.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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