LSU vs. Georgia: Top 5 Player vs. Player Matchups in the SEC Championship Game

No doubt, this afternoon's Southeastern Conference Championship Game between top-ranked Louisiana State and No. 14 Georgia will include a lot of players who eventually will play on Sundays and Mondays.

Shoot, as preposterous as it may sound, some pundits have argued LSU's defense can compete against some lower-level NFL teams right now.

Which matchups will matter most when the SEC East and West champions square off today in Atlanta's Georgia Dome?

Here is a look at five.

Aaron Murray vs. the Honey Badger

OK, so Aaron Murray, Georgia's outstanding redshirt sophomore quarterback, will be matched up against more than just Tyrann Mathieu.

However, LSU's talented cornerback/safety, nicknamed the "Honey Badger," is the biggest name in what is a loaded secondary.

In 2011, Tigers' defensive backs have allowed a total of six touchdown passes. Conversely, they have accounted for six scores off their own off interceptions (three by Mathieu).

Mathieu also blitzes on occasion, and he has shown an uncanny ability to force fumbles, having done so 11 times in his 24-game college career. Knowing that Murray has been sacked 24 times in each of the past two seasons, expect LSU, who is tied for 10th nationally with 16 interceptions, to get after him as often as possible.

For his part, the 6'1", 211-pound Murray has completed 202-of-331 passes (61 percent) for 2,698 yards, with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Four different wide receivers or tight ends—Marlon Brown, Chris Conley, Malcolm Mitchell and Orson Charles—have 100-yard receiving games for the Bulldogs this year.

Murray is arguably the best quarterback the Tigers will face all season, and he needs to have a big game for Georgia to have any shot at pulling off the upset.

LSU OTs vs. Jarvis Jones

A 6'3", 241-pound pass-rushing fiend, Georgia's redshit sophomore outside linebacker Jarvis Jones enters today's SEC Championship Game with 13.5 sacks this season—a total that ranks third-best nationally.

A transfer from USC, Jones can get to the quarterback through speed, power and a plethora of moves at the point of engagement.

LSU will attempt to block Jones with a pair of talented offensive tackles in 6'6", 329-pound junior Alex Hurst and 6'6", 316-pound sophomore Chris Faulk. Senior tight end Deangelo Peterson (6'4", 243) and bruising sophomore fullback J.C. Copeland (6'1", 275) also will be asked to help.

How well the Tigers block Jones will go a long way in determining the success of LSU's offense.

LSU Kick Coverage vs. Brandon Boykin

Georgia's Brandon Boykin enters Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship Game against LSU second all-time in the league in career kickoff return yardage.

The Tigers, meanwhile, rank 31st nationally in kickoff return defense, allowing an average of 19.96 yards on 71 returns this season. None have gone for scores.

The Bulldogs are going to need to make some breaks for themselves in order to win this game. A big kickoff return or two would be a good start.

Georgia Kick Coverage vs. Morris Claiborne

Patrick who?

OK, it hasn't gone that far in the Bayou. Louisiana State fans still remember Patrick Peterson with reverence.

But Morris Claiborne has proven to be a tremendous replacement for Peterson, now a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals.

Standing 6'1", Claiborne is expected to be taken high in April's NFL draft. And like Peterson, his skills aren't limited to being a lockdown cover cornerback.

Claiborne has returned 15 kickoffs an average of 27.53 yards. Included in that total is a touchdown.

He could take advantage of a Georgia coverage unit that has been subpar most of this season.

The Bulldogs rank 101st nationally in kickoff coverage, allowing an average of 23.79 yards on 53 returns. They have given up two touchdowns.

Jordan Jefferson vs. the Georgia Secondary

LSU senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson has had his share of up and down moments in his career. And in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against Georgia, he will face a huge test.

The Bulldogs boast one of the country's best secondaries and enter the weekend tied for sixth nationally with 17 interceptions.

For his part, Jefferson enters the contest 45-of-70 for 654 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception in eight games. Should Jefferson falter or go down with an injury, backup Jarrett Lee, also a senior, is 104-of-167 for 1,306 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.

In an interesting side note, Tigers' third-string quarterback Zach Mettenberger, a sophomore who is expected to start next season, signed a national letter of intent with Georgia out of high school. He transferred when Aaron Murray became entrenched as the Bulldogs' starter.