Behind the Box Score: Georgia

Look, I realize no one is going to be pouring over the box score to this one. It doesn’t matter. LSU won, and they won big. And now we’ve moved on to the next season already.

So let’s get into it simply for academic reasons. Hey, re-live the win and enjoy every morsel of LSU’s first SEC title in eight years. This was a fun one, and it was relatively stress free, which is the best way to go. However, we’ll start with the most important number…

12. LSU’s twelfth SEC title, and fifth of the divisional era. Ed Orgeron becomes the eighth LSU coach to win an SEC title and here’s a little tidbit, he is only one SEC title away from tying for the all-time LSU lead. No LSU coach has won more than two SEC titles, if Ed O has a Future Goals section he would like to add to the binder he’s never read.

2.4. Georgia’s yards per rush. Much has been made of LSU’s run defense against Ole Miss, but can everyone admit that it was simply one bad game, and one they won by 20+ points anyway. Rarely is a team so widely condemned for one outlier performance in the regular season against an unranked team in a game they won with relative ease. LSU has now held its last three opponents under three yards per rush, and it’s a feat they have accomplished seven times this season. I’m thrilled teams think they can run on LSU because it leads to some doomed tactical decisions, but honestly, y’all. I’m trying to help. Stop.

3-3. Georgia’s 4^th down conversions. Give the Dawgs credit, they didn’t lie down. His was a team that kept swinging throughout, even when they were obviously doomed. I respect that sort of effort, and Georgia kept this from getting silly by converting fourth downs and keeping drives alive. Going 3-3 on fourth is a mixed blessing, as teams that are winning rarely go for it on fourth three times.

349. Joe Burrow’s passing yards. Joe threw 10 incompletions, which is a borderline disaster for him, but he kept the ball moving all night, and he found the end zone four times en route to winning the game’s MVP award. He has a much bigger MVP award coming in less than a week. This game was one extended Heisman moment.

7-115-1. Justin Jefferson’s receiving line. With Ja’Marr Chase slowed by illness, Jefferson stepped up and acted like the #1 receiver. It was a fitting capper to the season, as Jefferson hauled down everything within range and generally torched the Georgia secondary.

57. Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushing yards. CEH never really got going, though he did bust a late 20-yarder. Give the Dawgs credit, they bottled up one of the best rushing threats in the nation, even if it ended up not mattering. LSU simply beat them through the air instead.

2. Derek Stingley interceptions. Apparently Jake Fromm did not get the memo or simply forgot why no one throws at Stingley. He’s awesome, and given something to do, he pulled down two big picks. He’s a freshman, y’all.

1. LSU’s final rank in the AP and CFP polls. The second season starts now. Live up to that lofty ranking.