2019 SEC Championship Prediction – Georgia Bulldogs vs LSU Tigers Odds & Free Pick: Conference championship games have arrived, and not surprisingly, there is no shortage of huge matchups during Week 15 of the 2019 College Football season. However, the SEC Championship Game stands out as the marquee game on a loaded slate with the fourth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) taking on the second-ranked LSU Tigers (12-0).
In reality, the Tigers probably have a spot in the College Football Playoff wrapped up no matter the outcome of this game, and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow can already start looking for a spot to display the Heisman Trophy. However, a victory would not only give the Tigers the conference crown, but it could make them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Georgia absolutely has to win this game in order to reach the College Football Playoff. Even if the Bulldogs go down after a hard fight, a two-loss team that didn’t win its conference is not going to make the playoffs ahead of a one-loss conference champ. The Big 12 champ is guaranteed to have only one loss, and if Utah wins the Pac-12, they would also be a one-loss champion.
As for this matchup, it figures to be a major clash of styles. The Tigers have erupted into an offensive juggernaut this season, averaging 48.7 points and 560.4 yards of offense per game. Burrow has already set the SEC record for passing yards in a season, and his 44 passing touchdowns are tied for the most. Receiver Ja’Marr Chase is sitting on 1,457 yards and 17 scores, and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 16 scores.
On the flip side, the Bulldogs have been suffocating opponents with a lethal defense and pounding them with a power running game behind one of the most talented offensive lines in the country. Georgia is holding opponents to just 10.4 points and 257.0 yards of offense per game. The most points the Bulldogs have given up all season is 20, and that was in a double-overtime game. Running back D’Andre Swift enters the game with more than 1,200 yards, and quarterback Jake Fromm has tossed 21 touchdowns compared to three interceptions
The Bulldogs Win If:
Georgia needs to dominate the time of possession with its running game, taking the air out of the ball by keeping Burrow and company on the sidelines. The Bulldogs don’t have the firepower to win a high-scoring shootout with the Tigers, and Fromm isn’t a good enough quarterback to outduel Burrow. Georgia’s offensive line needs to control the line of scrimmage, and the Bulldogs cannot turn the ball over. Defensively, Georgia has to take away big plays from the LSU passing attack, forcing Burrow to methodically move the ball and execute in the red zone. The Bulldogs need this game to a be a low-scoring affair with limited possessions for both sides.
The Tigers Win If:
If Burrow and company get the passing attack rolling early, this battle of top-five teams could quickly turn into a one-sided affair. If LSU allows Georgia’s offensive line to dominate in the trenches, the Tigers are going to have a fight on their hands. Georgia is not built to play from behind, and if the LSU offense has a typical performance, the Bulldogs don’t have the firepower to keep pace. Defensively, the Tigers need to sell out to stop the run and force Fromm to beat them.
Bottom Line:
LSU’s offense has looked human just once all season, and that came in a 23-20 win over Auburn. Even in that game, the Tigers managed to pile up more than 500 yards of offense, but a pair of failed fourth-down attempts and an interception in scoring range cost them some points. Georgia’s defense is probably better than Auburn’s defense, but Burrow and company are going to be able to move the ball. Could the Bulldogs stiffen up in the red zone? Perhaps, but I don’t think Georgia’s old-school approach of running the ball and playing defense is going to be enough against LSU’s juggernaut of an offense.
Prediction: LSU Tigers (-7) Cover the Spread
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