THREE STORYLINES
Mettenberger homecoming. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger started his career at Georgia, grew up in Watkinsville and his mother has worked in the Bulldogs' football office since 1999. But Mettenberger was dismissed by the Bulldogs after an arrest in 2010 and, after a short stint at a junior college, has resurrected his career with the Tigers. How he handles that dynamic will be a significant factor Saturday.
BCS title elimination. Georgia can still win the SEC championship if it loses to LSU on Saturday, but its stated goal of playing for the national championship would effectively be eliminated. With a loss already on their ledger, even running the table the rest of the way likely would leave the Bulldogs on the outside looking in for a BCS shot.
Tighten special teams. The Bulldogs' have had four catastrophic plays on special teams in three games, giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown and a blocked punt for a touchdown, dropping a punt snap and mishandling a field-goal snap. Meanwhile, LSU has one of the best return games in America. Georgia must not make it easy for them.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Georgia front seven vs. LSU offensive line. The Bulldogs have an extremely young secondary, but the success or failure of the defense will hinge on Georgia's ability to stop the run, force the Tigers to pass and get pressure on the quarterback. The Bulldogs have done that with increasing effectiveness the past three games, but it won't be easy against an LSU offensive line that averages 314 pounds and has a 270-pound fullback behind them.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
"#tbt nothing else need to be said." — @5DeuceHerrera (Georgia linebacker Amarlo Herrera, accompanied by an Instagram photo of Herrera in a facemask-to-facemask stare down with an LSU player in 2011.)
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