LSU playing different role

After being spoiler two years ago, Tigers seek Sugar Bowl berth

? Two years ago, LSU played the role of spoiler in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Tennessee rolled into Atlanta with its Rose Bowl reservations in hand, needing only to beat the three-loss Tigers to earn a spot in the national championship game.

Not so fast. Led by a backup quarterback, LSU ruined the Big Orange coronation with a stunning 31-20 victory.

This time, it’s the Tigers (11-1) who might have more at stake than just a conference title. No. 3 LSU meets fifth-ranked Georgia (10-2) tonight, clinging to hopes of playing for a bigger championship in about a month.

The Tigers are third in the Bowl Championship Series standings, needing to jump ahead of second-place Southern California to get a spot in the Sugar Bowl. All three of the top teams are playing today.

USC finishes the regular season at home against Oregon State.

“We’re just going to take the same approach we’ve taken all year long,” LSU quarterback Matt Mauck said. “All the BCS talk won’t really matter if we don’t win the game.”

Perhaps mindful of what happened in 2001, LSU coach Nick Saban refuses to get caught up in all the plots and subplots regarding the BCS. Focus on this game, he keeps telling his players.

“They’ve done a good job focusing on the game at hand,” Saban said Friday. “If we happen to win this game then, yes, I want them to get the best they can get.”

LSU already beat Georgia this season, pulling out a 17-10 victory in Baton Rouge. Mauck threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 remaining for the winning score.

Ever since that day, the Bulldogs have longed for another chance to play the Tigers — and they’ll get it just an hour’s drive from their campus. The Georgia Dome likely will have the feel of a Georgia home game, but LSU is 5-0 on the road this season.

The Bulldogs did a lot of things right in the first game — leading 411-285 in total yards — but kept hurting themselves with uncharacteristic mistakes.

Billy Bennett missed three field goals for the first time in his career. David Greene threw two interceptions. Finally, cornerback Tim Jennings pulled up on the winning TD, thinking Mauck was going to run or get sacked.

“Normally, you only play a team once a year,” Greene said. “We’re fortunate to get another shot at them.”

LSU blitzed relentlessly the first time, causing all sorts of problems for Greene and his young offensive line.

The Tigers tipped or batted down eight passes. They sacked Greene twice and knocked him out of the game for two series with a hyperextended knee. While he was gone, D.J. Shockley was sacked twice and called for intentional grounding.

“They come at you from all positions,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It can drive you batty.”