As the 2022 College Football regular season approaches its end, the Westminster community looks forward to the SEC Championship Game between the UGA Bulldogs and LSU Tigers. The game, which takes place on Dec. 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, will have major implications for the College Football Playoffs, and both teams will head into the game as National Championship hopefuls.

UGA enters the game as 17.5-point favorites and the #1 ranked team in the country with a 12-0 record. They’ve been a powerhouse all season, easily handling opponents such as Oregon, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The squad is led by an overload of talent on both offense and defense, such as Stetson Bennett, Brock Bowers, Jalen Carter, and Kelee Ringo. 

Nonetheless, UGA will hope to change their luck from recent history; they’ve fallen short in their last 3 SEC Championship Games. The scores were 28-35 to Alabama in 2018, 10-37 to LSU in 2019, and 24-41 to Alabama again in 2021. UGA has also lost in five of its last six attempts. In total, in their nine appearances in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs are 3-6, with the three victories coming in 2002, 2005, and 2017.

On the other hand, LSU travels to Atlanta with nothing to lose. Coached by Brian Kelly, the team finished the regular season with a respectable 9-3 record and a signature win over division rivals Alabama. They are headlined by dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels and breakout freshman linebacker Harold Perkins. After a close loss to Florida State in their opening game of the season, LSU has managed to right the ship and clinch the number one spot in the SEC West.

LSU is aiming to continue their school’s success in SEC Championships. In LSU’s five appearances, they’ve won all of them, with their last SEC Championship being in 2019 versus Georgia when they were led by Heisman Trophy Winner Joe Burrow.

The general consensus from Westminster students, however, is that UGA’s momentum will continue into the SEC Championship game. 

“I predict UGA wins 31-17,” said sophomore Luke Baugher. “Georgia’s the best team in the country, and LSU lost to Tennessee who lost to Georgia, so I think Georgia’s got a good shot.” 

“I think Georgia is going to win,” said freshman Ryan Wakely. They’ve been dominant all season, and I don’t see how LSU could be an exception to that.” 

The SEC Championship also brings a chance for Westminster to unite over its shared fandom for UGA.

Sarah Darling, an English teacher and avid UGA fan, notices the effect college football has on her relationship with her students. 

“On the days leading up to games and then the days after games, it creates more of a community between my students and me—my fellow Georgia fans,” she said. “We have something to talk about leading up to the game and then after the fact, we can either celebrate together or commiserate together. But hopefully, we’ll be celebrating after the SEC Championship.”

Edited by Riley Sager