Bulldogs, Tigers in high-stakes affair

Georgia’s Bryan Evans is probably too young to remember the phrase “Don’t put the cart before the horse,” but this week the senior free safety, well, he put the cart before the horse when talking about Saturday’s showdown with LSU.

“Hopefully it will be a plus for us when we get this win Saturday,” Evans said. “They are ranked No. 4 in the country and we are ranked No. 18, and any time you can get an SEC win and a win against at team No. 4 ranked it’s big for your program. I think this can be a very big momentum booster.”

Evans made the remark without a hint of arrogance, and likely wasn’t even meaning to make a prediction.

But he’s right — it would be a huge momentum booster if the Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0 SEC) can top the Tigers (4-0, 2-0) at Sanford Stadium.

Not only could UGA take a major step forward in the SEC East with a victory, it would demonstrate that the Dawgs are capable of handling ranked competition. While wins over USC, Arkansas and Arizona State were exciting, none of those foes have appeared in the Top 25 all season.

In many ways, Mark Richt’s club remains an unknown — even to him.

“There was a lot of mystery to me (coming into the season),” Richt said. “Not for sure knowing what Joe (Cox) could do. Not for sure knowing what our running backs were going to do. Who might be able to make a play besides A.J. Green? All those questions everybody else had, we had. In the offseason we were a little bit more healthy up front. Losing (offensive linemen) Tanner Strickland and Trinton Sturdivant hurt us. There’s no question about that. If we had those two guys we would be more solid up from than we are right now. I’m not saying we’re bad by any means, but losing two guys like that that would have been starters for you, hurts you. Defensively, I think we are still finding our way a little bit.”

LSU, despite its lofty ranking, views this matchup as a must-win game. Next week Les Miles’ crew takes on Florida, and the Tigers must also deal with Alabama and a surprising Auburn team, as well as Ole Miss, in the SEC West.

There is little room for error.

“All the games we have played against them have been very meaningful in-season, and twice for the SEC crown,” Richt said. “They got one and we got one. When you think of LSU you think of the cream of the crop and a team that if you’re able to beat them, you’ve accomplished something special. That’s just how we look at them.”

No doubt Georgia has been fortunate to win three consecutive games. Players, coaches and fans have to wonder if they can continue to duplicate their come-from-behind magic against a team that is arguably the best it has faced to this point.

“You are not always going to have a perfect game,” linebacker Rennie Curran said. “No matter how well we play, there is always something that we feel that we can do better. At the same time, we have to be able to capitalize on our opportunities and not make mistakes that are going to keep the team in the game and give them momentum. The main thing for us is to continue to encourage each other because we all believe in each other.”