DawgNation has four staffers who cover Georgia football from every angle: Beat, live streams, photos, podcasts, recruiting, etc. The “Cover 4” concept is: 1) Present a topic; 2) Offer a reasoned response; 3) Share a brisk statement on that opinion. 4) Pepper the page with photos for the big picture. For this edition, we discuss the big matchups to pay attention to for Saturday’s Georgia-LSU game. 

DawgNation continues with the “Cover 4” concept. The focus is always a timely look with each of our guys manning the secondary on a pertinent topic.

The quick in-and-out game remains. It is designed to come out quicker than former Bulldog Nick Chubb scored his third touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens earlier this year.

The latest “Cover 4” question is of the fill-in-the-blank variety:

What is the one matchup which will largely decide the SEC Championship game?

Brandon Adams: The UGA secondary vs. LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase

Brandon Adams knows all about LSU sophomore Ja’Marr Chase and his 17 touchdown catches coming into Saturday’s game. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

The “why” from “DawgNation Daily” here: “It’s not easy to identify LSU’s best receiver, but Chase might win the Biletnikoff Award. The Bulldogs also faced the Biletnikoff winner in last year’s SEC championship game and held Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy to three catches for 24 yards (including a touchdown).”

Mike Griffith: Georgia offensive line vs. LSU defensive front

The guys for Sam Pittman are going to have to have themselves a night. That’s what the “On the Beat” take is for this topic. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

The “why” from “On the Beat” here: “Georgia has to run the ball effectively on first down to have success against the LSU defense.“

Connor Riley: Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs Georgia’s linebackers

Clyde Edwards-Helaire has earned the respect of Kirby Smart and the Georgia football team heading into this matchup. Based on what he did last year and so far in 2019. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)/Dawgnation)

The “why” from “Good Day UGA” here: “Edwards-Helaire has been phenomenal this year. When Georgia saw him in 2018, he rolled up 145 yards on the Bulldogs. Georgia’s group of linebackers have to be better and win that matchup for the Bulldogs to win the game.“

Jeff Sentell: Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte III versus Joe Burrow, Joe Brady and Steve Ensminger. 

Kirby Smart and Dan Lanning have to do a great job of denying the LSU offense with good calls that will limit the explosive plays for LSU and Joe Burrow. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

The Intel here: “Plays + players. That’s the winning equation here. Can Lanning and Smart make the calls that lead to big stops on the back end from Reed and LeCounte? If so, the Bulldogs can limit the LSU quarterback and the game plans laid in place by Brady (passing game coordinator) and Ensminger (offensive coordinator) which have transformed LSU football in 2019.”


The “Cover 4” topics of late: