No. 4 LSU Tigers at No. 18 Georgia Bulldogs

NCAA Football Betting Preview
LSU Tigers (4-0) at Georgia Bulldogs (3-1)
Sanford Stadium Saturday October, 3^rd 3:30PM Eastern

Betus.com betting line – Georgia -3, 52.5 O/U

The LSU Tigers have reached the number 4 ranking in the country this past week. The ranking marks the highest the Tigers have been ranked since their 2007 National Championship Season. The Tigers perhaps have benefited from other top teams suffering losses to reach the high ranking considering they have not appeared very dominate despite a 4-0 start. The Tigers escaped near upsets from Washington and Mississippi State by a combined 12 points and take to the road this weekend in their first big test of the year.

The Tigers travel between the hedges in Athens to battle with the no. 18^th ranked Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Georgia who is normally an SEC powerhouse has also struggled early on losing to Oklahoma State and having to manufacture a come from behind win last week against Arizona State. However, the Bulldogs do have some quality wins to their resume over South Carolina and Arkansas. The Bulldogs now get the chance to upset the Tigers who could be looking ahead to their much anticipated meeting with No. 1 Florida that is a week away.

Both teams have been fairly average ranking in the dead middle of the SEC in scoring. The Tigers are averaging 29 points per game while the Bulldogs are one spot ahead averaging 31 points per game. In respect to LSU, they have played some pretty solid defenses and have had their success without any ground support. The Tigers relied heavily on the running game last year as their quarterbacks struggled with interceptions and inconsistency.

The Tigers were held to just 30 rushing yards in last week’s close win over Mississippi State. Running back Charles Scott posted over 1,100 yards last season in his junior season, but is having a disappointing start to his senior campaign. Scott has just 179 yards in 4 games. Keiland Williams is another senior who was thought to make up one of the most experienced backfields in the conference. However, Williams has had equal success with just 184 yards and the Tigers ranked 10^th out of 12 teams in the SEC in rushing.

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson on the other hand has had perhaps a better than expected year. The LSU quarterbacks threw 18 interceptions last season. While Jefferson was not a main concern with those interceptions, he got very limited action in his freshman season and game experience was a concern. However, Jefferson has thrown just 1 pick in 4 games and more importantly has found the end zone 7 times through the air. Jefferson is completing over 60% on the season as well. Until the running game breaks through, Jefferson remains one of the main aspects to the Tigers success.

Georgia has struggled at times this year in the secondary against solid passing teams which may cause a bit of concern when the Tigers come rolling into town. The Bulldogs rank next to last in passing defense allowing 243 yards per game. Georgia has not been able to get a lot of pressure up front which may be part of the problem. However if the defense can keep the struggling running game down, then it forces Jefferson to win the game in one of the toughest environments he will play in on the road in Athens.

The Bulldogs are led by 5^th year senior Joe Cox who nearly has posted 1,000 yards this early in the season. Cox has stepped in well considering the Bulldogs lost one of the best quarterbacks in the nation last season in Matthew Stafford. However, Cox has thrown at least 1 interception every game this season and has 5 total on the season. Still, Cox will be big factor this weekend up against an LSU secondary which has appeared vulnerable at times this season as well. WR A.J Green will be the biggest concern to the Tigers secondary. Green is an excellent receiver who makes big plays. Green already has twice as many catches as any player on the Bulldogs roster at 25 for the season and has 428 yards already this year. Look for Green to make some big plays, if the Bulldogs are to have a chance at victory this Saturday.

Pick – LSU gets caught sleeping here and gets added to the victim list of top 5 teams to be beaten in 2009. A.J Green has a big day and the Bulldogs get a convincing win. Take UGA -3