REIGNING CATS & DOGS
LSU, GEORGIA BATTLE TO STAY AT OR NEAR TOP OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS
KEYS FOR LSU
Take chances: The Tigers are strong on defense but need to make plays on offense to keep pace with Georgia. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw his first two interceptions of the season last weekend in the loss to Florida and only has six touchdown passes. He’s going to need to open things up here.
Pressure Jake Fromm:
Georgia’s young quarterback doesn’t panic easily, so LSU is going to have to try to pressure him into making some mistakes. The Tigers might want to come off the bus blitzing to try to create some chaos here and challenge Fromm from the start.
KEYS FOR GEORGIA
Run the ball: Georgia leads the SEC in rushing at better than 245 yards per game. Establishing a ground game against the Tigers’ defense will allow the Bulldogs to control the contest and choose when they want to pass.
Punch it in: Georgia has scored touchdowns on 72 percent of its trips into the red zone, second to Alabama in the SEC by a sliver. Getting six points every time it has a chance would quiet LSU’s rowdy home crowd and put pressure on the Tigers to try to keep up.
PREDICTION
Georgia 31, LSU 17: The Tigers just don’t have the kind of firepower it takes to keep pace with these Bulldog, even playing in the friendly confines of Tiger Stadium. Georgia isn’t as stout on defense as it was last year, but it has an offense that keeps coming until it overwhelms an opponent. That’s what will happen here.