Georgia vs LSU

The SEC West rolls into this game vs the SEC East with a Michigan / Michigan State, Big Brother vs Little Brother national media perspective to put aside and focus on the task at hand. Georgia has won 10 games in a row, fields the 2nd best defense that LSU has faced this year (second only to Alabama), and have a distinctive advantage at quarterback. That said, while I believe LSU has the better team, Georgia has the athleticism to pull off the upset.

These teams have met only twice in the past five years. In 08, Georgia put a whipping on the Tigers, 52-38, @ Tiger Stadium, believe it or not and in 09, @ Sanford Stadium, LSU held off the Bulldogs, 20-13.

The Tigers & Bulldogs have played 6 common foes and are 12-0 against these teams. Let’s take a look at how they have done with these like opponents.  Kentucky; LSU beat (@ Home) the Wildcats 35-7 while the Bulldogs (@ Home) beat the cats 19-10. Florida; Georgia beat the Gators (in Jacksonville) 24-20 and LSU pounded Florida (@ Home) 41-11. Tennessee; LSU annihilated the Volunteers (in Knoxville), 38-7, while Georgia survived Tennessee (in Knoxville), 20-12. Ole Miss; the Bulldogs handled the Rebels, 27-13, in Oxford, meanwhile LSU destroyed Ole Miss, 52-3, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State; LSU held off Mississippi State, in Starkville, 19-6 meanwhile Georgia (@ Home) beat the other Bulldogs 24-10. Their final like opponent was Auburn, both Georgia and LSU hammered the other Tigers, Georgia 45-7 and LSU 45-10.

Other than the Auburn game, LSU makes the stronger case to win Saturday’s game, based on common opponent results. No Question about that!

Alright…Let’s take a statistical look at these teams and see if we get a different picture?

Total Offense; LSU averages 387 YPG while Georgia runs and passes for 424 YPG. In the category of Total Defense, LSU gives up 248 YPG while Georgia allows 271 YPG.

Scoring Offense: LSU puts up 38 PPG / Georgia totals 34 PPG, on the other side of the ball, Scoring Defense LSU allows 11 PPG / Georgia surrenders 18 PPG.

Offensive Turnovers: LSU give up the rock 0.67 times per game while the Bulldogs lose it 1.58 times per contest. Defensive Turnovers; LSU takes the ball away 2.25  per game/ Georgia has stolen it 2.42 in each of their 12 games.

There is no question that the statistics presented here indicate that the game should/will be closer than the common opponent data suggests. However, Aaron Murray, Georgia’s quarterback, has not seen a defense like LSU’s! The Tigers front 7 will be in his face all day long and LSU’s secondary will not allow any separation for his receivers. Georgia’s 10 game win streak ends… LSU 27 Goergia 10