A friend of mine sent this to me & it really got me fired up, read on...............
UGA vs. LSU
Have you ever seen a more bullish, herd mentality going into a game like the SECCG? In most cases you will have at least one or two pundits claiming an upset. For example, each week on College Gameday Herbie or Corso will make some outlandish remark as to why so and so is going to upset. For the SECCG no one is stepping out on the limb. I've heard only blabbering Lou Holtz comment that folks are maybe looking over UGA a bit too much, but that is it. Even the rabid fans on the DawgVent UGA's most fanatical sounding board are just wanting to make it a close game or they are just glad we are getting a first hand look against the measuring stick of what the best in cfb looks like. Is it safe to say that across the US over 99% of CFB fans believe LSU wins easily. 97% plus figure a blowout similar to USC v/s AU from last year. A recent report stated a majority of CFB fans don't think UGA has improved much from last year if any at all. UGA has benefitted by a really easy schedule with losses to the only credible teams on the schedule. Never mind the fact that half of UGA's regular season schedule is the exact same as LSU's, the nation's elite at #1. Don't blurt out LSU played WVU #16, since UGA played GT #19 nationally on offense.
Here's where the contrarian argument really has some teeth.
"UGA's Defense is good but nothing compared to LSU's. UGA is ok, they are similar to Ark."
Actually UGA is ranked 5th nationally. Ark is 51st. UGA is actually 10x's better than ARK on defense.
Other interesting factors regarding LSU's opponents,
LSU played UF the week after Bama injured starting quarterback Brantley. LSU faced a UF team starting a two headed attack of Brissett and Driskell both freshman.
LSU played UT the week after UGA injured Tyler Bray of UT (widely considered the best NFL QB prospect in the SEC) and had to face Sims and a true freshman.
These examples aren't to say LSU would have lost. They are to simply illustrate the LSU Defense ranked #2 didn't face the same level of opponent as did Bama #1 and UGA #5 in common opponent conference play.
"UGA hasn't played any real good rushing teams like LSU. UGA's rush D is not as good as LSU's."
In the 6 common opponents Miss St. Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn UGA held those opponents to 124 yards for all 6 common opponents (20.1 ypg)
LSU allowed a total of 607 yards for all 6 common opponents (101.1 ypg)
Six common opponents half of the regular season, imo, is a large enough sample size to conclude that UGA has the better run defense.
Rushing yds allowed for each game...
Miss -- UGA 34/LSU 148
MSU -- UGA 56/LSU 59
UT -- UGA -21/LSU 111
UF -- UGA -19/LSU 113
KY -- UGA 23/LSU 89
AU -- UGA 51/LSU 87
UGA's opponents USC and GT clearly have two of the best rushing attacks in CFB. We held GT to almost 100 yards less than their season avg, and their 2nd lowest rushing total of the year (Miami 1st).
USC's Lattimore had only 87 yards through 3 and 1/2 quarters before he gashed UGA several times near the end of the game. UGA played two brand new ILB's that game including a true frosh with both Ogletree and Robinson out with injury. Just saying, one of the top rb's in country will exploit a weakness if he's matched up head to head as a game progresses and people get tired.
"UGA's schedule was weak, and the east is pitiful."
UGA played half of their season against the same opponents as LSU. LSU's top games were clearly Oregon and Bama, imo. Looking back is it safe to say WVU was the Big East's only hope to keep any credibility alive for the Big East's automatic BCS qualifier staus? Thus a good national ranking early in the season was almost necessary in order to hide the chinks in the BCS's armor. Similar to Auburn being ranked in the top 25 of the BCS even after they had 4 losses. Auburn finally fell out after their 5th loss, to Bama, who certainly benefitted from AU's BCS ranking at the time of the game. For the record Syracuse beat WVU by a greater margin than LSU.
UGA lost to Boise State and South Carolina in weeks one and two and many football pundits couldn't bare to look in UGA's direction due to the ultra bright welder's torch glow coming from Coach Richt's seat. UGA wasn't an after thought at this point. UGA wasn't a thought at all. Boise State is good, not great, and UGA without any identity as a team lost. However, UGA certainly looked better in quarters 3 1/2 and 4 with their new starters and freshman plalying than they did in the first two and a half quarters. Those with enough interest may have realized UGA pulled what seemed to likely be a 4-5 touchdown loss back to just two scores by games end.
Against South Carolina, UGA again showed youth and certainly the absence of their starting ILB's. Bottom line, UGA didn't take care of the ball and ignored the impact Special Teams could have on the game's outcome and UGA lost by 3. After putting 21 points on the board for the Gamecocks, even Gamecock fans shouldn't argue UGA's miscues tee'd up 21 points for them. USC won fair and square.No excuses or bad officiating can be leaned on for the loss.
Back to the East is Weak comment. I think somebody should point out that neither LSU nor Bama played either UGA or USC so how can we really make the comparison? After all, the rest of the SEC teams on both sides had a mixed bag of results and many of the losses suffered by SEC teams on both sides came at the hands of UGA, Bama, USC, LSU, and ARK. The SECCG will be the first game where two of the top two and only the second game this season where two of the top three teams from opposing divisions play. Just something to consider.
At the end of the day nationally, Offensively, UGA's ranked 34, LSU 62. Defensively, LSU's ranked #2, UGA #5.
The spread opened at UGA -10 and has grown to UGA -14. Wiseguys and contrarians alike are taking UGA-11,-12,-13, and -14. Where is your money?
UGA vs. LSU
Have you ever seen a more bullish, herd mentality going into a game like the SECCG? In most cases you will have at least one or two pundits claiming an upset. For example, each week on College Gameday Herbie or Corso will make some outlandish remark as to why so and so is going to upset. For the SECCG no one is stepping out on the limb. I've heard only blabbering Lou Holtz comment that folks are maybe looking over UGA a bit too much, but that is it. Even the rabid fans on the DawgVent UGA's most fanatical sounding board are just wanting to make it a close game or they are just glad we are getting a first hand look against the measuring stick of what the best in cfb looks like. Is it safe to say that across the US over 99% of CFB fans believe LSU wins easily. 97% plus figure a blowout similar to USC v/s AU from last year. A recent report stated a majority of CFB fans don't think UGA has improved much from last year if any at all. UGA has benefitted by a really easy schedule with losses to the only credible teams on the schedule. Never mind the fact that half of UGA's regular season schedule is the exact same as LSU's, the nation's elite at #1. Don't blurt out LSU played WVU #16, since UGA played GT #19 nationally on offense.
Here's where the contrarian argument really has some teeth.
"UGA's Defense is good but nothing compared to LSU's. UGA is ok, they are similar to Ark."
Actually UGA is ranked 5th nationally. Ark is 51st. UGA is actually 10x's better than ARK on defense.
Other interesting factors regarding LSU's opponents,
LSU played UF the week after Bama injured starting quarterback Brantley. LSU faced a UF team starting a two headed attack of Brissett and Driskell both freshman.
LSU played UT the week after UGA injured Tyler Bray of UT (widely considered the best NFL QB prospect in the SEC) and had to face Sims and a true freshman.
These examples aren't to say LSU would have lost. They are to simply illustrate the LSU Defense ranked #2 didn't face the same level of opponent as did Bama #1 and UGA #5 in common opponent conference play.
"UGA hasn't played any real good rushing teams like LSU. UGA's rush D is not as good as LSU's."
In the 6 common opponents Miss St. Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn UGA held those opponents to 124 yards for all 6 common opponents (20.1 ypg)
LSU allowed a total of 607 yards for all 6 common opponents (101.1 ypg)
Six common opponents half of the regular season, imo, is a large enough sample size to conclude that UGA has the better run defense.
Rushing yds allowed for each game...
Miss -- UGA 34/LSU 148
MSU -- UGA 56/LSU 59
UT -- UGA -21/LSU 111
UF -- UGA -19/LSU 113
KY -- UGA 23/LSU 89
AU -- UGA 51/LSU 87
UGA's opponents USC and GT clearly have two of the best rushing attacks in CFB. We held GT to almost 100 yards less than their season avg, and their 2nd lowest rushing total of the year (Miami 1st).
USC's Lattimore had only 87 yards through 3 and 1/2 quarters before he gashed UGA several times near the end of the game. UGA played two brand new ILB's that game including a true frosh with both Ogletree and Robinson out with injury. Just saying, one of the top rb's in country will exploit a weakness if he's matched up head to head as a game progresses and people get tired.
"UGA's schedule was weak, and the east is pitiful."
UGA played half of their season against the same opponents as LSU. LSU's top games were clearly Oregon and Bama, imo. Looking back is it safe to say WVU was the Big East's only hope to keep any credibility alive for the Big East's automatic BCS qualifier staus? Thus a good national ranking early in the season was almost necessary in order to hide the chinks in the BCS's armor. Similar to Auburn being ranked in the top 25 of the BCS even after they had 4 losses. Auburn finally fell out after their 5th loss, to Bama, who certainly benefitted from AU's BCS ranking at the time of the game. For the record Syracuse beat WVU by a greater margin than LSU.
UGA lost to Boise State and South Carolina in weeks one and two and many football pundits couldn't bare to look in UGA's direction due to the ultra bright welder's torch glow coming from Coach Richt's seat. UGA wasn't an after thought at this point. UGA wasn't a thought at all. Boise State is good, not great, and UGA without any identity as a team lost. However, UGA certainly looked better in quarters 3 1/2 and 4 with their new starters and freshman plalying than they did in the first two and a half quarters. Those with enough interest may have realized UGA pulled what seemed to likely be a 4-5 touchdown loss back to just two scores by games end.
Against South Carolina, UGA again showed youth and certainly the absence of their starting ILB's. Bottom line, UGA didn't take care of the ball and ignored the impact Special Teams could have on the game's outcome and UGA lost by 3. After putting 21 points on the board for the Gamecocks, even Gamecock fans shouldn't argue UGA's miscues tee'd up 21 points for them. USC won fair and square.No excuses or bad officiating can be leaned on for the loss.
Back to the East is Weak comment. I think somebody should point out that neither LSU nor Bama played either UGA or USC so how can we really make the comparison? After all, the rest of the SEC teams on both sides had a mixed bag of results and many of the losses suffered by SEC teams on both sides came at the hands of UGA, Bama, USC, LSU, and ARK. The SECCG will be the first game where two of the top two and only the second game this season where two of the top three teams from opposing divisions play. Just something to consider.
At the end of the day nationally, Offensively, UGA's ranked 34, LSU 62. Defensively, LSU's ranked #2, UGA #5.
The spread opened at UGA -10 and has grown to UGA -14. Wiseguys and contrarians alike are taking UGA-11,-12,-13, and -14. Where is your money?
