2013-14 Preview (SEC) Georgia
Georgia has been very good over the last decade but never really able to break through in a big way. Maybe this year is the year they can, led by a senior QB captaining an offense that should be among the best in the conference and the nation.
Georgia Bulldogs (Team Link)
Coach: Mark Richt
2012 Record: 12-2
Odds of winning BCS Championship: +2000
With a chance to make a statement in their opener this could finally be the year Georgia finds their way to the BCS Championship Game. A lot of things are in place.
The only way that is going to happen is if they can play solid defense with a whole new cast of personnel. Last year they came up just 4 points short of beating national champion Alabama for the SEC title beating everyone on their schedule, save South Carolina rather easily.
The Bulldogs are hoping for a rematch in the Georgia Dome in December. I think they will get what they want so they better be ready for it.
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Georgia is going to be very, very good on offense this season. QB Aaron Murray is in the conversation for the best quarterback in America and he will be playing behind a line that is returning every starter from last season – 4 of them seniors.
Last year the Bulldogs put up 37ppg but this season they could easily eclipse 40, and that is with playing against some of the top defenses in the nation in their own conference.
In looking at the skill positions Georgia is wealthy in that department too. RB Todd Gurley had the best freshman season for the Dawgs since a guy named Herschel Walker and Keith Marshall would start for about 99 other programs, and be a star. Between the two they could easily account for 2500 yards this season.
At receiver, the names are not as known but Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett are both over 6 feet tall and present huge matchup problems for defensive backs. They caught 8TDs last year but that number should double this season.
Defense is where all of the questions are on this year’s Georgia team as only three starters return.
Last year they got tremendous production from LB Jarvis Jones who harassed quarterbacks all season long but this year they will need someone to ascend to that role. The favourite is sophomore linebacker Jordan Jenkins who had 5 sacks last year.
If he can be a special disruptive source than the defense will be good enough to support the offense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
2013-14 Record Projection: 12-0
I am not ready to say that Georgia is going to waltz past Alabama into the Championship Game but I do feel comfortable predicting a perfect season for this program that has been on the verge for a while.
I think their opener against Clemson is going to be a fantastic back and forth game and they will beat South Carolina at home the week after to get off to a fantastic start and likely #2 ranking.
After that the biggest threats on the schedule are LSU at home, the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party vs Florida, and complacency. I actually think the Bulldogs greatest threat to perfection could be Georgia Tech in the very last game of the year.
Its not that the Yellow Jackets are the best team on their schedule but they might be looking ahead to the conference championship game if they have qualified and GT can flummox opponents with their style
(Note: UGA beat them 42-10 last season).
Once they get to the SEC title game all bets are off. It should be a very exciting season in Athens as they finally receive their due…or at least a little more due.
2013 Bulldogs Schedule:
AUG 31 – @Clemson
SEP 7 – South Carolina
SEP 21 – North Texas
SEP 28 – LSU
OCT 5 – @Tennessee
OCT 12 – Missouri
OCT 19 – @Vanderbilt
NOV 2 – Florida (Jacksonville)
NOV 9 – Appalachian State
NOV 16 – @Auburn
NOV 23 – Kentucky
NOV 30 @Georgia Tech
