During game week the staff at Dawg News Daily previews the matchup between the Bulldogs and their opponent. We focus in on 3 key position matchups or players that we believe will be the difference makers in Saturdays game.
DAWG NEWS DAILY'S 3 & OUT REPORT:
The Dawgs make their way back to Atlanta again for the 2nd straight season and 5 out of the last 6 seasons. But the Bulldogs are only looking for their 2nd SEC Championship in the last 6. Kirby Smart has challenged the 2022 team to be different than last years national championship team...one way to do that is win the SEC Championship! They'll face a tough task against SEC West winner LSU. The Tigers had a slip up in their season finale against Texas A&M, but expect Brian Kelly and company to have the Tigers ready against a Georgia team who haven't looked like a well oiled-machine on offense the last few weeks.
1) UGA RUN GAME
The UGA staff probably watched Texas A&M running back Devon Achane rush for 200+ yards last week and it gave them chill bumps. Kirby and company have been working the last few weeks to establish the run to possibly build up for the postseason. Kenny McIntosh looks to be a bell cow in the past five games he has 70 carries for 412 yards (5.88 ypc) and 4 touchdowns. Kendall Milton has been a nice bright spot for the Dawgs in his return from injury with averaging 8.5 yards a carry and 2 touchdown his last 3 games. Achane (A&M) looked to attack the edge against LSU, look for the Dawgs to have a similar scheme running behind the tackles and blocking tight end Darnell Washington.
2) Containing Jayden Daniels:
The LSU offense runs through QB Jayden Daniels... No literally... Daniels leads the Tigers in both passing yards (which is to be expected) and rushing. The rushing yards and attempts are what really stand out! Daniels lead team with 824 yards rushing on 174 attempts. The 2nd leading rusher is Josh Williams with 481 yards on 92 carries. Get the picture now! Stop Daniels, Stop LSU. Expect the Dawgs to Spy Daniels with a linebacker but for the edges to work to contain Daniels from getting outside and keeping him in the pocket.
3) Harold Perkins
Stopping or slowing LSU freshman linebacker Harold Perkins is going to be one of the biggest tasks on hand for the UGA offense on Saturday. As head coach Kirby Smart explained during his weekly press conference, the recipe for doing so isn't an easy answer, but it’ll require constant attention.
Perkins, a true freshman, is one of the most talented players in the country and LSU likes to plug him in at a number of spots on the field. Opponents have seen Perkins at Middle linebacker, Edge Rusher, and even in coverage.
“You know where he’s at when he’s out there, right?” Smart said. “They’re going to use him in different ways. They’ve changed up the way they’ve used him throughout the year. That’s what good defensive coordinators do. They try to find different ways to put him in, maybe a mismatch, and utilize him.”
The Bulldogs Offensive line will be an issue for the Tigers as well. The Bulldogs have only allowed just seven sacks all season. Keeping the talented pass rusher Perkins at bay will be key.
Perkins may be the one defender the allusive Stetson Bennett can't outrun!
DND's Score Prediction:
Georgia: 24-13 (Line: Georgia -17.5)