LSU head coach Ed Orgeron on dominate win against No. 2 team in the nation.

After a tough lost against the Florida Gators, the No. 13 LSU Tigers came back to Death Valley, where they are undefeated on the season, to face the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (UGA).

To beat the No.2 team in the country, the Tigers were going to need to play a game where they do not turn over the ball, which is something they have struggled with the last few games, and play top-level defense.

LSU did more than not turn the ball over and play top-level defense; they made pivotal, clutch plays.

The first quarter started slow. LSU went up first with a field goal. And the Bulldogs looked like they were going to do the same, but ended up fumbling in the red zone on a trick-play field goal. LSU fans shook Tiger Stadium with their chants as it repeatedly reached more than a 100 decibels.

LSU got the ball back after the turn over and drove 84 yards to end on a one-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Joe Burrow to go up 10-0 at the beginning of the second quarter. This trend continued throughout the rest of the game.

One of the facets LSU has improved on is explosive plays or chunk plays. LSU accounted for two plays for more than 45 yards within the span of two drives. There could have been two more, but Burrow overthrew his target on both.

I have praised LSU’s defense for each home game they have played and rightly so. They held the Bulldogs’ offense to zero points in the first half. The Bulldogs came to Tiger Stadium averaging 42.8 points a game; they finished the game with a total of 16 points, which less than half their season average.

Head coach Ed Orgeron said that the loss to the Florida Gators was a motivator for the team this game.

Star LSU linebacker Devin White said what happened at Florida was an anomaly, referring to the 200 plus rush yards  LSU’s defense allowed. White said what happened against UGA is more reflective of what the team is and can be.

The linebacker added “get us [the defense] 21 and we’ll win.”

The first points for Georgia came on a field goal with nine minutes left in the third quarter, making the score 16-3. With that drive, the Bulldogs’ offense had accounted for a total of 174 yards in comparison to LSU’s 246 yards total.

At the end of the third quarter, you could feel the momentum switch in the Bulldogs favor as they scored their first touchdown of the game, making the score 19-9. LSU proved this game that they could do what needed be done in the clutch. The Tigers drove 86 yards on six plays in the fourth quarter to make it a three-possession game, 26-9. This score put the final nail in the coffin.

LSU’s head coach said “we needed that drive” and he praised the play calling in that moment.

For the most part, LSU’s defense has their way with Georgia on both sides of the ball. Orgeron called the win a “total team effort.”

Credit to the Bulldogs’ defense bending but not breaking (for the first three quarters), causing LSU to kick five field goals in the red zone. This could have been more ugly if the LSU’s offense scored a touchdown each time they reached the red zone.

The Tigers scored 17 of their 36 points in the fourth quarter and the crowd’s screams were deafening with each score.

LSU has now beaten three top ten teams this season, which more than any other team in college football. The Tigers hopes of being in the College Football Playoffs were definitely strengthened with this decisive win against UGA.  

The Tigers will take their undefeated home record against No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Ocotber 20, which will be their fifth ranked opponent this season.

Video: Fanatics View