2016 Football Preview – SEC – Georgia Bulldogs
Looking for 2016 Georgia Bulldogs predictions? Georgia finally pulled the chute on head coach Mark Richt. This is a move that has been talked about for years as the Dawgs have been but not great in the BCS/playoff era.
NCAA Football Gambling Lines
Georgia Bulldogs
2015/16 Record: 10-3
Head Coach: Kirby Smart
Odds to win SEC: +900
Odds to win National Championship: +2800
Win Total: 8.5
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
***More 2016 NCAA Football Team Season Previews***
Georgia Bulldogs Handicapping
I think they finally made the move knowing that they would be able to get their top choice, former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart – he is an alum too. Fortunately for Smart the cupboard is far from bare in terms of talent.
He will have a chance to start his own legacy in Athens.
To win the SEC you have to get past Alabama so Georgia is hoping Smart can be the key to doing so – nobody knows Nick Saban better.
The East Division is not too strong but Tennessee is considered the lead dog heading into the season. For Georgia to leapfrog them they need a healthy RB Nick Chubb and for freshman quarterback Jacob Eason to live up to his billing.
If that happens there is no reason why Smart can’t find himself opposite his former boss in the SEC title game.
2016 Georgia Bulldogs Predictions: Team Strengths
When healthy the Dawgs have one of the best running back tandems in the nation with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. However, Chubb is coming off a season ending injury a year ago while Michel has been hurt this offseason and his status is currently uncertain.
[dfads params=’groups=220&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
Whoever is toting the rock should be able to do so effectively behind a line that returns three starters. They averaged close to 200ypg with bad quarterback play last season and this season it should be much better thanks to super frosh Jacob Eason.
On defense they return three starters, but they are all from a secondary that was first in yards allowed a year ago.
No reason to think they can’t have that kind of success again with a defensive mind like Smart running the show.
2016 Georgia Bulldogs Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Smart may prove to be a great coach but this is his first time having that kind of control of a program. Even though the talent base is good he is competing in the SEC and three of his first four league games are on the road.
He might experience more adversity than his predecessor and it will be interesting to see how the faithful react.
Check out the free College football picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
At the same time Eason is just a freshman and even though he looked sharp in the spring game it will be different when the lights are on.
Smart will have to prove his brilliance on the defensive side of the ball by getting production out of a front seven with zero returning starters. The talent might not be as good as what he is used to but it won’t be that far off, certainly not athletically.
He just has to put it all together while coaching the whole team this time.
2016 Georgia Bulldogs Predictions: 10-2
Coaches and quarterback are often tied together and it is hard to know how the marriage between Smart and Eason will work out. This group won 10 games a year ago and as much as they want more the natives will likely need to exercise some patience with Smart.
Georgia is not likely to be a playoff threat but assuming that neither Smart nor Eason is in over their heads they should compete for an SEC East title in 2016.
The schedule sets up nicely for them – if they get out of the first month of the season intact with their three weakest division opponents on the road.
[dfads params=’groups=219&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
Crossovers against Ole Miss and Auburn are no gimmes but this team could put up a 6-2 record in the conference and take their division, making their +900 to win the conference a decent value play.
They host their annual battle with Georgia Tech to close the season and by that time they could be talking about this group as a Top 10 team for 2017.
2016 Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule
- 9/3/16 5:30 PM ET @UNC
- 9/10/16 12:00 PM ET NICH
- 9/17/16 7:30 PM ET @MIZZ
- 9/24/16 TBD @MISS
- 10/1/16 TBD TENN
- 10/8/16 TBD @SOCAR
- 10/15/16 TBD VAN
- 10/29/16 3:30 PM ET FLA
- 11/5/16 TBD @UK
- 11/12/16 TBD AUB
- 11/19/16 TBD ULL
- 11/26/16 TBD GT
What do you think about our 2016 Georgia Bulldogs predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
The 2016 College futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NCAA football, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NCAAF odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find College football lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated College Football Betting Odds.