Georgia is
picked by most experts to win the SEC Eastern Division this season. Not
exactly a stretch considered that the Bulldogs along with Missouri have
been the only teams to represent that division in the SEC Championship
Game the last four years.
But, hold your horses. Six times in the last ten years (2003,
2004, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017) the media has chosen UGA in preseason
polls. How did they do?
They made it and lost
to LSU in 2003. A no show in 2004. Fans still remember as they lost to
Alabama in 2012 as the clock ran out. Mizzou replaced them in 2014 and
Florida in 2015. So, of the six times they were picked, they made it
twice and lost both.
So, maybe this year will be different. Lets check out the schedule
and see what the possibilities are there. The pair of FCS schools as
home games shouldn't pose a problem. But, a few have given the Dawgs
fits in recent years.
Appalacian State and Samford are no cream puffs. The Mountaineers will be
optimistic coming off a 10-3 season in which they earned a share of the
Sun Belt Conference championship and beat Toledo in the Camellia Bowl.
App State is picked to win their league title.
Samford posted a record of 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Southern Conference
play in 2016. The team reached the first round of the NCAA Division I-FCS
Playoffs for the second time in the last four years.
Still, there's no way Georgia shouldn't have the edge in both.
A tougher matchup will come on September 16 as the Bulldogs make their
first ever trip to South Bend, Indiana in a football fan's dream trip.
Along with that game, the Braves play the Cubs up the road in Chicago
for three that weekend with the Falcons also in the Windy City taking on
the Bears.
Notre Dame looked mediocre last season, struggling to a 4-8 finish. They
were terrible in close games. Of their eight losses, seven were by one
possession. Heads rolled with head coach Brian Kelly bringing in
eight new coaches on the staff. Unless the locals are star struck
playing in that stadium, they are likely to come out smiling.
After Samford, Georgia plays another Bulldog team for the second straight
week as Mississippi State comes to Athens off its worst record in seven
seasons going 6-7, 3-5 in the SEC. They are not lacking at quarterback
where Nick Fitzgerald led the conference with 16 rushing
touchdowns. He rushed for 1,375 yards and passed for 2,423 and 21 TDs.
If all goes well, UGA could be looking at a 4-0 start. After that, its
still three winnable road games, but against tougher competition as the
Dawgs travel to Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Missouri. All had below
average seasons last year at 9-4, 6-7 and 4-8 respectively.
So, a possible 7-0 start isn't out of the question.
After a bye week, there is the always difficult trip to Jacksonville.
Florida may be the toughest game on the schedule. Even though the Gators
were only 9-4 last year, no matter whether they are good or lousy, they
somehow manage to win this game. Since Vince Dooley left, Florida
has dominated, winning 21 of 25 since 1990. Your guess is as good as
mine on this. Hopefully, Kirby Smart can reverse that trend.
Close out the regular season with road games at Auburn and Georgia Tech
sandwiched around a home game with Kentucky and you have a lot of
potential for the 2017 season.
If I had to predict, and I do, I see something like 11-1 or 10-2 and a
return to Atlanta. Possible hiccups might come with Florida, Auburn or
Tech.
Should be a fun season.