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Posted: Friday, 02 December 2011 6:12AM

Palermo: 5 things to watch in the SEC Championship



LSU and Georgia do not play on an annual basis, but it's been a good rivalry ever since Bulldogs Coach Mark Richt took over as the head coach in Athens. Richt is 3-and-3 against LSU.

The first meeting was that memorable game in Tiger Stadium in 2003, when Matt Mauck hit Skyler Green on a long touchdown pass to beat the Bulldogs 17-10. LSU defeated Georgia again that year in the SEC Championship game.

The Bulldogs got their revenge in 2004 when the Bulldogs crushed LSU 45-16. That was the game Xavier Carter decided to take a knee on the one-yard line, after fielding a kick-off. It was that kind of day for LSU.

The two teams met again in the 2005 SEC Championship. But LSU's tired legs from a grueling stretch after Hurricane Katrina, finally caught up to LSU in a 34-14 defeat.

The next meeting between the two proud programs was in 2008. Jarrett Lee threw two pick sixes and Georgia won 52-38 in Tiger Stadium. LSU returned the favor in 2009 with a 20-13 win over the Bulldogs. Charles Scott had a 33-yard touchdown with just over a minute left for the winning score.

So what's going to happen on Saturday? Here are five things to watch for when these rivals meet in the Georgia Dome.

1. Turnover battle

LSU has an impressive turnover ratio of plus 19. But Georgia is a plus 10, and they have 29 takeaways. Bacarri Rambo has seven interceptions. For the Bulldogs to stay in this game, they have to hope LSU is lazy with the football. But the Tigers have turned it over just eight times this year.

2. Can Georgia take away LSU's running game?

When you think defenses in the Southeastern Conference, there's LSU and Alabama and then there's Georgia. The Bulldogs are ranked 5th in the nation in total defense, sixth in rush defense, allowing 94 yards rushing a game. Georgia held Florida to negative 19 yards when the two teams met on October 29th. Jarvis Jones leads the Dawgs with 19.5 tackles for a loss.

But LSU has been very impressive running the football lately. In the last three games, LSU has rushed for at least 286 yards in each of those contests. Kenny Hilliard has come on as of late, picking up his first 100-yard plus performance last week against Arkansas.

3. Georgia's O-Line against LSU's athletic defensive line

It looked like it was going to be a long season in Athens, when Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray was sacked six times in a 35-21 loss to Boise State. But the Bulldogs offensive line has settled down since then, and they are a big reason why the Dawgs have won ten in a row. The offensive line features three seniors and they'll need that experience going up against LSU's sensational sophomores on the defensive line, Michael Brockers and Sam Mongtomery.

4. Big Plays on Special Teams

Georgia is the perfect opponent to get some big plays on special teams. They've allowed two kick offs for a touchdown, and Ole Miss had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown against them. Georgia kicker Blair Walsh has also struggled. The senior missed a total of five field goals during his sophomore and junior seasons. But this year he's 18 of 29 and has missed four field goals between 30 and 39 yards.

5. LSU's mindset

Does LSU go into Saturday believing all of the talk they already have a spot in the BCS National Championship game? I would say no, this team loves playing football and do not want to back into the national title game. I like LSU to win 27-10. 

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