LSU vs. Georgia: Can Tigers Cage Dogs In Their Own Kennel?


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Keys for LSU to Beat Georgia at the Pound

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Derick Hingle, USA Today Sports

General Sherman of Union Army Civil War fame was the Chancellor at LSU prior to the war. He was not a very popular guy in Georgia with his torching of Atlanta. While LSU Quarterback Zach Mettenberger won’t be quite as despised when he and the Tigers roll in Saturday, you can bet he will be reminded constantly about his past demons.

Mettenberger grew up 10 minutes from the Hedges and his mother is still an Administrative Assistant to Georgia coach Mark Richt. If ever there was a quarterback destined for greatness with Georgia, it was Mettenberger. Enter a spring break night at a bar and a whole lot of paths went different directions that night. Richt, after his quarterback pled guilty, dutifully dismissed Mettenberger from the team.

Going into exile in the deepest parts of Kansas and attending Junior College, Mettenberger made amends and got the attention of an LSU program that was as desperate for a quarterback as Mettenberger was for a second chance. A shaky junior season left the Tiger faithful apprehensive, however, NFL guru Cam Cameron has homesteaded in Baton Rouge for the time being and has been largely credited in turning Mettenberger into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country thus far and a budding NFL prospect.

Can Zach Mettenberger make a couple mistakes and still be the leader and quarterback that LSU desperately needs to make a title run? If Mettenberger can deal with his own personal circus and lead the Tigers over his former team Saturday, it could be not only a vindication for him, but also for an underrated LSU team ready to serve notice to the college football world and Nick Saban, that they are indeed worthy title contenders and are ready to continue proving it.

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Can Mettenberger take down the Dogs ?

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Matthew Emmons-USA Today Sports

Freshly found confidence is a wonderful thing and Zach Mettenberger has got a lot of it going for him right now. As one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation, he has led sixth-ranked LSU into a top-10 battle with his old team Georgia. There will be a lot of folks on hand to see him fail, but if Mettenberger can remain focused and not get distracted by the circus-like atmosphere, the Tigers could well knock off the Dogs.

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Jerermy Hill has to bruise the Bulldog Defense and keep them guessing

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Derick-E.-Hingle, USA Today Sports

Bursting back onto the scene just in time for SEC play Jeremy Hill is clearly the most talented of the LSU ground corps. Key for Hill and the Tigers has got to be the power running that they have been known for. If they can keep the Bulldog defense guessing, Mettenberger has proven so far this year that he can pick defenses apart if given enough time.

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Jarvis Landry leads an explosive receiving corps

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Beth Hall, USA Today Sports

Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. arguably form the best tandem of wide receivers in the nation this year. With the new-found confidence of Mettenberger and an improving offensive line that will be given their biggest test to date Saturday, the ability of the Tigers to go vertical is a key component in trying to clamp down the Georgia Bulldogs.

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Georgia Coach Mark Richt knows Mettenberger well

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Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Richt's Administrative Assistant has been a fan of the Bulldog program for as long as she can remember. Her family lives 10 miles away and her son practically grew up in the Football offices of the University of Georgia. It was a no-brainer when Mettenberger signed with the Bulldogs and was involved in a highly-competitive battle with his roommate Aaron Murray for the starting quarterback job in the spring of 2010. Unfortunately, Mettenberger made some mistakes and a remorseful Richt had to dismiss him from the team. Although Richt and quite a few of his former Georgia teammates have remained on good terms that will cease for at least a couple hours Saturday.

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Georgia Quarterback Aaron Murray will battle one more time against his former roomate Zach Mettenberger

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Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The last time Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger were on the field together, it was a highly competitive situation, but they wore the same colors and were on the same team. Several years removed from the competition, Murray will once again face his old roommate, only this time Mettenberger will be wearing the colors of LSU as the Tigers invade Stanford Stadium in the Showdown Between the Hedges. Murray will put his BCS hopes on the line against LSU in a game that Georgia must win to have any hope of a BCS National Title.

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"The Hat" may have some tricks up his sleeve for Georgia

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Beth Hall, USA TODAY SPORTS

On the road in the SEC, Les Myles of LSU has been known to pull some pretty zany calls much to the chagrin of friend and foe alike. Look for Miles to pull out all the stops in Athens on Saturday as the Tigers need to knock off the Bulldogs to further their SEC and BCS aspirations.

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College Gameday & the SEC: A Tradition

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Derick Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

The LSU-Georgia tilt certainly is the highlight of the weekend's college football games. LSU must control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball to keep the Bulldogs at bay. The Tigers also must do a great job of protecting the football both on the ground and in the air. This will be a test for the young Tigers on the road in a decidedly hostile stadium. Special teams play could actually decide this game as the teams are so evenly matched. Look for Odell Beckham Jr. to have a big part to this game if special teams are the case. The last thing is LSU has to rally around Mettenberger and play through mistakes if they are going to win. As closely matched as these teams are, I think LSU will prevail 35-31.

Be sure to check out the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series, a preview of the top 100 College Football Teams for the 2013 Season!



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