Georgia vs. LSU: Breaking Down the Top Positional Matchups

This weeks SEC Championship Game is probably the top conference championship game of them all. The Georgia Bulldogs are taking on the undefeated LSU Tigers and the outcome will affect the BCS Bowl matchups.

If the Tigers win, they are guaranteed to reach the BCS National Championship. If Georgia wins, LSU still probably reaches the national championship game, but Georgia would earn a spot in the BCS Sugar Bowl—possibly resulting in three SEC teams reaching a BCS bowl.

With the big game only a few days away, here are some of the top positional matchups. 

Isaiah Crowell vs. LSU's front seven

Everybody knows the Tigers defense is a huge reason for their success. Stopping the run comes first as they are ranked fourth in the country, allowing only 86 yards per game on the ground.

Isaiah Crowell is a speedster running back that has huge big-play ability and can take it the distance at any time when the ball is in his hands.

He averages nearly five yards per game and has 832 rushing yards this year.

If Crowell can break off a few big runs, it will make quarterback Aaron Murray's job a lot easier. If he gets shut down like every other running back that LSU has faced, on the other hand, the Tigers will likely win. You can't have a one-dimensional offense against a great defense like the Tigers. 

Both teams' offensive lines vs. both teams' defensive lines

We all know that getting pressure on the quarterback can really change the outcome of a game and it will be the difference in this one.

These defensive lines are tied for first in the SEC with 32 sacks, which is also good for 15th in the country. These teams make the quarterback's job a lot more difficult and cause a lot of pain when they get to him.

With that said, LSU has one of the top offensive lines in the country as they have only allowed 12 sacks on the year. Georgia has allowed 25. Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who has 13.5 sacks this season, will have to play out of his mind.

Whichever team pressures the quarterback more in this game will win. 

Arron Murray vs. Tyrann Mathieu

Murray has been the top quarterback in the SEC this year as he's completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,698 yards and 32 touchdowns. He's also been on fire over the last three games, throwing for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tyrann Mathieu is one of the top defensive backs in the country as he leads the Tigers in tackles with 66. However, it's not the statistics that make Mathieu so valuable, it's the fact that he comes up with big play after big play when the Tigers need it the most.

If Murray isn't careful, Mathieu could make another game-changing play that would change the outcome of this game. Murray must know where Mathieu is on the field at all times or he will be in trouble. 

Tyrann Mathieu vs. Georgia's special teams

Yes, Mathieu is on this list again because he is that special a player. We saw that last week as he returned a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas when LSU so desperately needed a spark. He actually averages nearly 14 yards per punt return.

Georgia is one of the worst at defending the return as they allow 14 yards on each, which is good for 112th in the country.

If the Bulldogs allow the "Honey Badger" to run wild and give an above average defense great field position, they'll have no chance in this game.

Georgia must stay disciplined and not let this huge advantage affect the outcome of the game.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]