SEC Championship: Did LSU Coast Knowing It Could Still Make Title Game?

The 13-0 (9-0 SEC) No. 1 LSU Tigers defeated the 10-3 (7-2 SEC) No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, Georgia in front of a packed out Georgia Dome. The Tigers entered the game as a 13-point favorite, with most expecting the Tigers to cover without an issue.

The Tigers started the game down 10 points in the first quarter of play. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead off a great scoring drive on their first offensive possession. The second kickoff that the Bulldogs tried was an onside kick. It was recovered by the Bulldogs, taking every bit of momentum and pushing it in their direction.

LSU looked to be out of the game as if they had a lack of preparation and focus. The Bulldogs were taking the reins in the championship game and were looking to take the game away from the Tigers early.

LSU did not look like they were ready to play, and they looked like they may have taken the Bulldogs preparation and talent for granted. With 5:48 left in the second quarter, Tyrann Mathieu took a punt 59 yards for a touchdown and got the game within three right before halftime.

To end the first half, the Tigers only had five yards rushing on the books. That was not going to win them a championship, and they knew it walking into the locker room. The Tigers had to come out and force a play and shift the momentum.

A fumble by Aaron Murray early in the third quarter that was recovered by the Tigers turned out to be the pivot point in the game. Within three plays, the Tigers had taken a 14-10 lead.

The Bulldogs would not score another point in the game, as the Tigers owned the second half. The Tigers were able to finish the game with precision and gained a total of 203 yards on the ground in the second half.

The Tigers offense was not a huge factor through the air against the Bulldogs, as the Tigers only earned 30 yards through the air. With a grand total of 237 yards, most would be surprised if a team could win the game, much less win by 32 points with so little offense.

The Tigers special teams and defense really stepped up to the plate and battled for this game. The Tigers looked unprepared to start the game and like they lacked energy. The Tigers found a way to win, however, as the defensive backfield of LSU took over the game late.

LSU was reported to have been the most focused they had been all season, but this performance didn’t show it. LSU was able to pull off the win, but it wasn’t by being technical or playing clean football; it was by outperforming the Bulldogs with their athleticism.

The Tigers have been playing bad in the first half pretty consistently to finish the season. Another first half showing like this one in the title game could be very destructive for the Tigers. Something tells me that this won’t be an issue in January.