No. 2 GEORGIA (6-0, 4-0 SEC) at No. 13 LSU (5-1, 2-1)
3:30 p.m. EDT at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
VIDEO & RADIO
CBS & 102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
LSU's offense has more spread components under first-year coordinator Steve Ensminger, but the Tigers are at their best when they've established their downhill running game. Georgia has been mostly good against the run this season, with the exception of the 172 rushing yards allowed at Missouri, but facing LSU inside Tiger Stadium should be the best gauge yet for the Bulldogs' front seven. "We better knuckle up, because it's going to be a physical, tough, hard-nosed football game," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "They have a big offensive line. They have big fullbacks. They have big tight ends. They have big backs. They have big people, and that's the way LSU is built. Their wideouts are huge and have always been that way. Any questions about our defensive line and our defense in terms of whether we're physical enough will be answered for sure when we go out there to play these guys."
ONE TO WATCH
The last meeting in this series took place in Athens in 2013, when quarterbacks Zach Mettenberger (LSU) and Aaron Murray (Georgia) put on quite the show in a 44-41 Bulldogs win. Those point totals are not expected today, but Georgia defenders are wary of Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow, who had not thrown an interception all season until last Saturday's 27-19 loss at Florida. "He is a good player, and he is very competitive," Bulldogs senior inside linebacker Juwan Taylor said. "He is very mobile and will be a challenge, because in these last couple of weeks, we haven't faced mobile quarterbacks. He is going to move around a good bit, so we're going to have to do a good job of containing him and trying to keep him in the pocket."
IN THE END
There is a lot at stake for both programs. Georgia can validate its stellar start of six wins by at least two touchdowns, while LSU can bounce back from the Florida game and move toward a return to elite status nationally. "We should have won that football game," Tigers coach Ed Orgeron said. "The players know it, and I think the team is hungry. This is going to be a tremendous challenge for us. Georgia has our attention and has everybody's attention all year. I'm glad we have them at home." There has been much to like about LSU's start, but there has been even more to like about Georgia's more complete roster.
PREDICTION
Georgia 27, LSU 13