When Georgia met LSU in Baton Rouge in September, Tigers coach Nick Saban was frantically working to keep his team from listening to the press as it pronounced the gigantic importance of that game. Saban knew if his team lost the season would continue and that a win would guarantee very little beyond the obvious.
He was insistent that Georgia did not constitute a "defining" game because both teams were highly-ranked and should find it natural to be emotionally prepared. The next week, when LSU faced a weak Mississippi State team, Saban used the occasion to emphasize that this indeed could constitute a defining moment since it would require maturity to get ready. His team did the job in both instances.
Saban has worked hard at LSU to teach the principle of playing each game, each quarter and each play without reference to the previous one or next one. He has tried to do the nearly impossible with a group of teenagers, which is to keep their minds in the current moment.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has played with a patchwork offensive line all year, shuffled defensive personnel in the secondary and found one go-to guy after another as his wide receivers have been injured, returned and injured again. Richt's team comes into this game as healthy as in any game this season. The idea, though, has been to never change the expectations regardless of who is playing or how strategy has been affected.
It is interesting that both teams lost focus in the presence of true freshman quarterback Chris Leak and his Florida Gators at the very time it appeared the Tigers and Bulldogs were becoming mature squads. But for that lapse LSU would be ranked No. 2 and Georgia No. 3 as we speak, and this game would be for a berth in the BCS championship game at the Sugar Bowl.
The first order of business as the week's preparations begin is to be certain no one is concerned with "what might have been". The "coulda, shoulda, woulda" curse hits at surprising times. Our culture has so inured its competitors with the national title thing that it is not unusual for youngsters to feel that nothing else matters.
If you doubt me on that, consider the fact that Georgia players were so thrilled with their SEC championship rings last year that ten players sold them on eBay. But those were not bad kids. They reflect our society's values.
We have nearly ruined the sense of accomplishment that comes with merely having a good year. How many times do you see students and cheerleaders look into the nearest camera and chant, "We're No. 2!" or "We're No. 3!"?
It is almost Pavlovian, and the conditioned response mechanism is at its most dangerous at just this kind of moment. If teams, coaches and leaders are not very careful in their emotional preparation the prevailing thought can be, "Oh well, we aren't going to be national champs this year so I don't have to prepare well for this one."
Or, as in the case with Tennessee two years ago, "We fought very hard to get here, and as soon as we dispose of these guys (LSU), we will move on the national championship game!" As you recall, the Tigers upset the Volunteers, which gave us Miami-Nebraska in the Rose Bowl following the 2001 season.
Since we are all creatures of habit it is important to recall Game 1 between these teams, played Sept. 20 on the Bayou. It was tense, intense and very physical. LSU safety Jack Hunt said it was "the most exhausting game I have ever participated in."
It resembled an old-school SEC game in that it was low-scoring and turned on the kicking game. It resembled a high school game in terms of execution. The two offenses sputtered all day, the defenses were mostly superb and there were only a couple of big plays.
LSU won 17-10 on the strength of a good kickoff return, a decent offensive drive at the end and a huge play by its quarterback on a route the receiver busted. And there were seven Georgia drives inside LSU's 40 yard line that produced a total of three points.
To put into perspective just how fortunate the Bayou Bengals were consider the following: UGA placekicker Billy Bennett is 27-of-34 this season and the most prolific kicker in the history of Bulldogs football. Of his seven misses this year, three came on that day in Baton Rouge and all were well within his range.
After an intense study of all the pertinent numbers for this game it is clear that LSU has had a superior season and should win the game. The Tigers are even better in most of the Bulldogs' strong categories.
Georgia is No. 2 in the nation in the most important statistic, points allowed (11.8 ppg), but LSU is No. 1 (10.58). The 'Dawgs score an average of 27 points per game, the Tigers put up 35.
Other crucial numbers include yards per rush (LSU 4.2, UGA 3.5), yards per pass (LSU 8.3, UGA 7.6) and net punting average (LSU 40 yards, UGA 35.7).
Bulldogs quarterback David Greene has had a good year with a passing efficiency rating of 129.81, but LSU's Matt Mauch has had a better one at 153.92.
Kick and punt return figures favor the Tigers as well, and field position will be huge on a field with so many superior athletes. The hidden yardage could be a substantial LSU advantage if both teams hold true to form.
At this point my friend Lee Corso would say "Not so fast, my friends!" Here are the reasons Georgia will compete well and have a good chance to win the championship again:
Richt and Greene have seen all of Nick Saban's vaunted blitz package and they will prepare. Greene will not be rattled this time.
Even with the confusion in the first meeting the Bulldogs still out gained LSU 411-285 in total yards yards in the Tigers' home stadium.
In the all-important category of turnover margin, LSU is plus-4 while Georgia is plus-14.
The game within the game will be the added depth for Georgia along the offensive line with key people getting healthy, the return of difference makers Fred Gibson and Ben Watson and the focus of Billy Bennett. Those factors ensure this is a fascinating game to study and that it should be a great contest!
ESPN college football analyst Bill Curry coached for 17 years in the college ranks. His Game Plans for marquee matchups appear each week during the college football season.