ATHENS — The Georgia football program and its fans are understandably wrapped up in what this game means for the Bulldogs, but it’s a huge showdown for LSU, as well.
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“Everybody’s going to gun for LSU, we’re a top tier school, we know that, we got to get used to that,” Tigers coach Ed Orgeron said. “Georgia’s got our attention, has everybody’s attention all year, now it’s time to focus in on them and it will be a tremendous challenge for us. I’m glad we have them at home.”
The No. 2-ranked Bulldogs (6-0, 4-0 SEC) head to Baton Rouge for the 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday looking for a statement win, as none of their wins have come against a team currently ranked in the Top 25.
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LSU (5-1, 2-1), meanwhile, hopes to recapture the momentum that had lifted the program to a No. 5 ranking, wins over Miami (Fla.) and Auburn turning heads and revving up a Tigers’ raucous fan base that Georgia coach Kirby Smart said was “second to none.”
Orgeron indicated that this game will be about LSU taking care of LSU, and the rest taking care of itself.
“We have to quit shooting ourselves in the foot, we get a big first down, we got a holding penalty, turnovers,” Orgeron said. “Turnovers. We go down the field and we get some sacks. Any time you get one or two sacks it’s hard to score. They get a negative plays. We had 11 tackles for loss against us (at Florida).
“So now we have to eliminate the negative plays, protect the quarterback better, sustain drives, and not have penalties that end the drive.”
Smart said much the same thing about his Bulldogs in the wake of their 41-13 win against Vanderbilt last Saturday.
“Good football teams don’t beat themselves, and we obviously were trying to do all we could to beat ourselves tonight,” Smart said last Saturday. “I’m excited to see where this team can grow and get better from here.”
The Saturday game will provide both teams with an opportunity to start the second half of the regular season with momentum.
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