Georgia presents a lot of problems for any team it plays.

The No. 1-ranked and undefeated Bulldogs are as talented as any team in the country. They also have the experience of having won the national championship last season.

So they will present significant challenges for LSU in virtually every matchup in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday in Atlanta.

Presumably, some matchups will be fought to a draw.

But others will be won by one side or the other.

A few will be the most important ones in determining the outcome.

Here are 3 matchups that LSU must win:

1. Tigers’ linebacker/safeties vs. Bulldogs’ tight ends

LSU head coach Brian Kelly said the term “lethal” was a good choice of words when a reporter used it to ask him this week about Georgia’s tight-end tandem of Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington.

Bowers is versatile enough to be the Bulldogs’ leading receiver and also be a productive rusher. At 6-7 Washington is a matchup nightmare and he leads the team and is tied for 9th in the SEC with an average of 16.1 yards per catch.

Georgia’s passing game is a bit unconventional in the degree to which it relies on the 2 tight ends, and that’s primarily because they both have rare talent for a tight end.

The Tigers are going to have to limit big-gainers for the 2 tight ends, but the bigger challenge might be trying to deny them the ball in short-yardage situations on 3rd down and in the red zone.

It won’t fall on a couple of defenders to slow these guys downs over the course of the game.

It will take a team of linebackers and safeties, primarily, to try and limit the tight ends’ productivity to a manageable degree.

2. Jayden Daniels vs. the Georgia linebackers

Daniels’ ability to throw the ball effectively against the Bulldogs will be an important part of the game, but it’s his ability to run the ball that has elevated the LSU offense to its highest level this season.

Daniels injured his ankle last week against Texas A&M. It remains to be seen just how healthy the ankle will be, but he will need to be effective running the ball if the Tigers hope to sustain enough drives to have a chance.

Daniels is LSU’s leading rusher with 824 yards.

LSU utilizes plenty of designed runs for Daniels. Will his injury impact how many offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock calls?

Daniels’ ability to ad-lib runs when pass plays don’t work as designed also has been a big part of the Tigers’ running game this season. Even if Denbrock is reluctant to call as many designed runs as usual, Daniels’ improvisation still will be a big part of the game.

Even if he’s less than 100 percent, his instincts will convince him to take off when pass plays break down.

The Dawgs’ linebackers will be charged with containing Daniels, whether he’s running by design or out of necessity. Perhaps Georgia will choose to have someone “spy” Daniels in order to contain him.

But one way or another, this matchup will be a key to determining the outcome.

3. LSU’s offensive line vs. Georgia’s defensive line

The Bulldogs’ defensive line is really good. It’s big, strong, athletic and deep.

It can dominate any football game.

If the Tigers are to have a chance to win, their offensive line has to prevent Georgia’s front from dominating.

Running backs and tight ends will factor into this equation from time to time, but mostly it’s going to be up to LSU’s offensive linemen to hold their own in their individual matchups.

The LSU offensive line has improved significantly over the course of the season and it might be the healthiest it has been all season. Still, LSU has allowed 41 sacks this season.

This is its biggest challenge to date – and this battle in the trenches is as big a matchup as there is in this game.