Georgia will go 9-3 this season, and here’s how
Georgia coach Mark Richt faces a tough start to this season. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(This appears in the AJC’s college football section on Sunday.)
(Click here to read here how and why things spun out of control for Georgia Tech last season)
♦
Sept. 3, Boise State (Ga. Dome), 8 p.m.
No. 5 Boise State has been outscored 121-40 in its past three games against SEC teams: Georgia (48-13 in 2005), South Carolina (41-14 in 2002) and Arkansas (32-13 in 2001). I like the Broncos anyway. I’m not sure Georgia’s defense has an answer for quarterback Kellen Moore (left), and as terrific as Aaron Murray is, I suspect it will take a little while to get used to life without A.J. Green. The Dogs’ cast of running backs is obviously thin (and Carlton Thomas is suspended for this game). If freshman Isaiah Crowell comes out like a wrecking ball, all bets are off. But I’m betting not.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Sept. 10, South Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Marcus Lattimore rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 17-6 win over Georgia in Columbia last season. On paper, No. 12 South Carolina should repeat as SEC East champions if Stephen Garcia doesn’t mess things up. But he very well might. The Dogs should be a little more comfortable in Athens than in the Georgia Dome. They’ll also feel a bit desperate after the opening loss to Boise State. The defense steps up just enough, and Murray will make one more play than Garcia in the end.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 17, Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.
If the Dogs are 0-2 going into this game, Sanford Stadium is going to look like Tombstone, Ariz., post-shootout at the OK Corral. Either way, this one is a gimme. Coastal Carolina is an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school that plays in a 9,000-seat stadium. The Chanticleers play these games for the paycheck — and to strike fear in their health insurance company.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 24, at Mississippi
The Rebels finished 4-8 last season after going 19-8 in coach Houston Nutt’s first two years, and they’ll be no better this year. Strange, considering the coach annually signs like 7,000 players for 20 spots in recruiting every year. Not much is expected from the Ole Miss defensive front, so this is a good chance for the Dogs’ offensive line and Crowell to get rolling.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 1, Mississippi State
Notwithstanding the losses to South Carolina and Arkansas that preceded it, Georgia’s 2010 season really fell apart with its 24-12 loss in Starkville (its first loss to Mississippi State since 1974). At 0-3 in the SEC, the season was over. That won’t be the case this time. No. 20 MSU lost some guys along the defensive front, and winning in Athens is something they’ve done only twice (1914 and 1956, with Georgia winning nine straight at home since).
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 8, at Tennessee
So things are rolling now, right? Four consecutive wins since the loss to Boise State and 3-0 in the SEC? Now comes trouble. I know. It’s Tennessee. But freshman quarterback Tyler Bray won four of his five starts down the stretch (16 touchdowns, seven interceptions), and coach Derek Dooley (left) gets his players to play hard, if not always smart. Mark Richt’s Dogs have been shellacked in their past two trips to Knoxville (combined score: 80-33). And I don’t believe Georgia will win every game it’s supposed to.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Oct. 15, at Vanderbilt
Vandy ranked 110th in the nation in offense last season, and the wonder is that there were 10 teams worse. The Commodores scored 96 points in eight SEC games. Auburn scored 306. But at least Vandy beat Ole Miss. If the Dogs’ defense doesn’t smack Vandy, coordinator Todd Grantham may not want to board the bus afterward.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 29, Florida (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m.
A game against Vandy and a bye week is about as good a setup as Georgia can have against its annual tormentors. But last year it had Vandy and Kentucky leading into Florida Week and still lost to a Gators team that had lost three straight (including 10-7 at home to Mississippi State). Florida won’t be great this season. But the offensive resume of new assistant Charlie Weis tells us that he’ll probably make something of quarterback John Brantley.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Nov. 5, New Mexico State
Here’s your reach for positive karma. The last time Georgia played New Mexico State was in 2002, when Richt won his first SEC title in Athens. The Aggies are dreadful. They lost games last year by scores of 42-10, 42-16, 59-0, 52-6 and 59-24. Another walkover.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 12, Auburn
That guy at quarterback for No. 23 Auburn is gone. So is half of the defense. All together, 18 starters are gone from the BCS title team. You can’t take anything away from a coach who goes undefeated through the SEC and wins a national championship, but we’re about to find out how good Gene Chizik really is. Expect the Tigers to run the ball a lot with Michael Dyer, but he won’t be enough.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 19, Kentucky
Coach Joker Phillips said, “I expect us to be in the title race longer than we have been.” I’m not sure what that means. Five minutes? But Georgia can’t laugh too much. This used to be one of those automatic wins, but not anymore. The Dogs are only 3-2 in the past five meetings, and there have been way too many chaotic moments against Big Blue.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 26, at Georgia Tech
Since Tech upset Georgia and ripped off pieces of the Sanford Stadium hedges in Paul Johnson’s first season, the Dogs have won the past two meetings. The Jackets probably won’t be as bad this season as some forecast. But it’s difficult to know how far along Tevin Washington and/or Synjyn Days will be at quarterback, and we can be fairly certain Murray will be very good for Georgia.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
No. 5 Boise State has been outscored 121-40 in its past three games against SEC teams: Georgia (48-13 in 2005), South Carolina (41-14 in 2002) and Arkansas (32-13 in 2001). I like the Broncos anyway. I’m not sure Georgia’s defense has an answer for quarterback Kellen Moore (left), and as terrific as Aaron Murray is, I suspect it will take a little while to get used to life without A.J. Green. The Dogs’ cast of running backs is obviously thin (and Carlton Thomas is suspended for this game). If freshman Isaiah Crowell comes out like a wrecking ball, all bets are off. But I’m betting not.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Sept. 10, South Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Marcus Lattimore rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 17-6 win over Georgia in Columbia last season. On paper, No. 12 South Carolina should repeat as SEC East champions if Stephen Garcia doesn’t mess things up. But he very well might. The Dogs should be a little more comfortable in Athens than in the Georgia Dome. They’ll also feel a bit desperate after the opening loss to Boise State. The defense steps up just enough, and Murray will make one more play than Garcia in the end.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 17, Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.
If the Dogs are 0-2 going into this game, Sanford Stadium is going to look like Tombstone, Ariz., post-shootout at the OK Corral. Either way, this one is a gimme. Coastal Carolina is an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school that plays in a 9,000-seat stadium. The Chanticleers play these games for the paycheck.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Sept. 24, at Mississippi
The Rebels finished 4-8 last season after going 19-8 in coach Houston Nutt’s first two years, and they’ll be no better this year. Strange, considering the coach annually signs like 7,000 players for 20 spots in recruiting every year. Not much is expected from the Ole Miss defensive front, so this is a good chance for the Dogs’ offensive line and Crowell to get rolling.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 1, Mississippi State
Notwithstanding the losses to South Carolina and Arkansas that preceded it, Georgia’s 2010 season really fell apart with its 24-12 loss in Starkville (its first loss to Mississippi State since 1974). At 0-3 in the SEC, the season was over. That won’t be the case this time. No. 20 MSU lost some guys along the defensive front, and winning in Athens is something they’ve done only twice (1914 and 1956, with Georgia winning nine straight at home since).
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 8, at Tennessee
So things are rolling now, right? Four consecutive wins since the loss to Boise State and 3-0 in the SEC? Now comes trouble. I know. It’s Tennessee. But freshman quarterback Tyler Bray won four of his five starts down the stretch (16 touchdowns, seven interceptions), and coach Derek Dooley (left) gets his players to play hard, if not always smart. Mark Richt’s Dogs have been shellacked in their past two trips to Knoxville (combined score: 80-33). And I don’t believe Georgia will win every game it’s supposed to.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Oct. 15, at Vanderbilt
Vandy ranked 110th in the nation in offense last season, and the wonder is that there were 10 teams worse. The Commodores scored 96 points in eight SEC games. Auburn scored 306. But at least Vandy beat Ole Miss. If the Dogs’ defense doesn’t smack Vandy, coordinator Todd Grantham may not want to board the bus afterward.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Oct. 29, Florida (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m.
A game against Vandy and a bye week is about as good a setup as Georgia can have against its annual tormentors. But last year it had Vandy and Kentucky leading into Florida Week and still lost to a Gators team that had lost three straight (including 10-7 at home to Mississippi State). Florida won’t be great this season. But the offensive resume of new assistant Charlie Weis tells us that he’ll probably make something of quarterback John Brantley.
Prediction: Bulldogs lose.
Nov. 5, New Mexico State
Here’s your reach for positive karma. The last time Georgia played New Mexico State was in 2002, when Richt won his first SEC title in Athens. The Aggies are dreadful. They lost games last year by scores of 42-10, 42-16, 59-0, 52-6 and 59-24. Another walkover.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 12, Auburn
That guy at quarterback for No. 23 Auburn is gone. So is half of the defense. All together, 18 starters are gone from the BCS title team. You can’t take anything away from a coach who goes undefeated through the SEC and wins a national championship, but we’re about to find out how good Gene Chizik really is. Expect the Tigers to run the ball a lot with Michael Dyer, but he won’t be enough.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 19, Kentucky
Coach Joker Phillips said, “I expect us to be in the title race longer than we have been.” I’m not sure what that means. Five minutes? But Georgia can’t laugh too much. This used to be one of those automatic wins, but not anymore. The Dogs are only 3-2 in the past five meetings, and there have been way too many chaotic moments against Big Blue.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Nov. 26, at Georgia Tech
Since Tech upset Georgia and ripped off pieces of the Sanford Stadium hedges in Paul Johnson’s first season, the Dogs have won the past two meetings. The Jackets probably won’t be as bad this season as some forecast. But it’s difficult to know how far along Tevin Washington and/or Synjyn Days will be at quarterback, and we can be fairly certain Murray will be very good for Georgia.
Prediction: Bulldogs win.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
372 comments Add your comment
mdc
August 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
hard to believe some of these writers at the AJC get paid…..Shultz and that clown bill king
wild one 13
August 27th, 2011
9:51 pm
The Gators sure have been very quiet since they hired their new staff.
They will be a force to deal with come the first weekend in October.
Big L
August 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
This team is too good to have a losing record. So the season can go one of three ways. If they lose the first two, they will iether be 8-4 or 7-5. Split the first two, 9which is what I believe will happen0, they end up 9-3 or 10-2. If they win the first two, and tey are talented enough, they can easily run the table. The defense , I think , is gonna be a beast this year. With Kwame and Alec plugging the run, Jarvis creating pressure and Boykin and Smith being top notch on the corners, the offense will have to prove itself. If the line holds up and the running game can be consistent enough to keep opposing defenses honest, Murray is gonna pick teams apart. My honest opinion though, 10-2 with losses to South Carolina and one other team I just can’t pick right now. Florida is NOT as good as us, but I would not bet money on that game.It just always makes fools of us.
Jim (Ponzi) Dunnan
August 27th, 2011
10:28 pm
I want some of what buzzDawg & DawgMan are smoking! Talk about delusional-about like I was when I waited 55 years to coach a team like this & then we wet the bed in Columbia.
Moonshine
August 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
“The defense steps up just enough, and Murray will make one more play than Garcia in the end.”………….Gotta disagree with you on that one Mr. Shultz. I think Garcia shows up drunk and still wins this one for the Cocks.
JJ
August 27th, 2011
10:39 pm
LOL Another idiot thinking murray will have a great season because last year he was so stellar. Idiots like schultz said the same thing about jason Heyward entering this season. Murray had I think 8 int’s last year. Look for 12-14 this year. You idiots pump this guys ego up and make him think he’s favre. Gonna be a 5-6 loss season. And I wouldn’t discount tech at all considering they outplayed ga last year and lost because of badly timed fumbled and a missed pat. Add in uga with no aj or durham and their top 2 rushers gone, well it will be a long season in athens. Wait til the crowell hype vanishes after week 2. But yeah, he;s the next herschel. Only been hearing that for 2 decades.
Steve
August 27th, 2011
10:45 pm
What on earth makes people think this season will be any better than last??? The two receivers are gone and drafted into the NFL. The O-line is thin and suspect. Will the defense be improved at all? It all starts on the line of scrimmage. We have fast raw athletes, but are they good smart football players? We know the team from the blue field has real football players. Sorry, I know this is very pessimistic outlook and I hope I’m wrong. Just a season ago, we got pushed around and I mean seriously manhandled by a bad Colorado team, Miss. State and, umm UCF!
Rumbo
August 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
History shows that when Spurrier has equal or more talent than Georgia, he wins. It’s amazing Schultz doesn’t remember stuff like that. South Carolina will beat Georgia and Florida rather easily and face Bama in the SECCG.
aladawg
August 27th, 2011
10:59 pm
Wally, Wally, apparently dementia has already set in and you don’t even know the time of day. Make sure you stay close to the person who takes care of you.
SEC Fact Finder
August 27th, 2011
10:59 pm
As bad as the UGA family wants to see 9 wins, the first two games of the season will go a very long way in determining the fate of this 2011 version of the UGA bulldogs. Do the freshmen play like upperclassmen? Does the Offensive lineman protect Murray? Will a WR pick up their game to make some catches? Does the Defense play like a SEC division winner plays?
Who know the answers and the final result. Just looking at the initial outlay and schedule, it seems like a 9-3 or 8-4 season is possible. It also has the appearance of a 7-5 or 6-6 record. That is just how crazy this game is when placing so much on freshmen and sophmores.
I think UGA splits with Boise and USC, either way, but if UGA had a choice of losing one it would be to Boise. I just see MSU as a team that is going to be much better than folks think and they are huge on both sides of the ball. UF is always going to be good and that game will mean a great deal to Muschamp in his first season.
It is going to be a fun season and wishing all of your teams good luck and healthy seasons.
Pete
August 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
Boise is favored because Boise beats teams better than UGA every year.
Also, Vegas wouldn’t even have put a spread on Colorado and UCF if they were playing Boise. They know Boise would have de-stroid those teams.
BSU 51-14
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
I wanna know the last time Boise beat an SEC team. I also wanna know the last time SC beat Georgia in back to back years. Also, what was SC record last year? 9-5? Why are they on a pedestal?
All this talking WILL END come next week and I can’t wait to see the look on you guys’ faces when it does. Your talking lots, and lots of crap but next week I bet you won’t. You guys really don’t think you can be wrong and look stupid do you? What if UGA comes out smokin and just throttles Boise. I mean throttle. It could happen. What would you do then?
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
I don’t get you uga homers. You lost 7 games last year. You lost to us and with the best rb and wr in the sec playing at our school, you think you will win? I think it will be close until late in the 3rd quarter. Sorry but this is SS best team by far and we know what he does when he has great play makers. Your best playmaker is in the nfl. And don’t forget that sophmore slump. I agree with others that the media here has inflated your qb’s head with so much hype, even my head is spinning. How you lose 75% of your offense from last year and you get better by 3 wins is beyond me.
SC 33 Ga 24
SC 10 wins
ga 7
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:04 pm
Pete, Toledo is better than Georgia? Wyoming better than UGA? Fresno State better than UGA? Tulsa better than UGA? Get a grip man. You stupid idiot.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 27th, 2011
11:05 pm
If you are a UGA fan and visited the Tech site to moch them after the Jarvis incident then I have no use for you. I would like to think that we could show a little class but I have seen several fans show there tails. I think UGA fans should show some respect for themselves along with the university.
aladawg
August 27th, 2011
11:05 pm
Dawg Man, what in the heck are you drinking or smoking. You live in a dream world. I hope you are right but I live in the sane part of Georgia.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:06 pm
That’s all I hear…LAST YEAR. Why not this year? Isn’t it a new year. My goodness people it’s not like SC ran the table. They went 9-5 with back to back losses to end their season. When is the last time SC had a 10 win season? I bet SC has went longer than UGA has without a 10 win season.
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:09 pm
Hey athens idiot–what would your record have been last year if you had played alabama and auburn twice. Get a clue idiot.
Sean
August 27th, 2011
11:09 pm
I disagree with the predicted losses to FL and TN. I see a loss to SC and possibly Miss. State. I think that the Dawgs have the UF game circled on the calendar and will have something to prove after last year’s disappointing loss. They will also have enough games under their belt to prepare for that game and the bye will help. Not sure about Boise, out of conference teams tend to be overrated when facing SEC teams so we will see next Sat. Here’s hoping for a good season. GO DAWGS!
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
Murray scored 6 points against us last year. No aj again this year. I think you might get 10 this year. Losers. You can’t stand the fact another sec east team is the king of the hill.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
I heard the same crap from Hawaii
I heard the same thing in 2005
Wait until 9/3 and the haters will leave
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:15 pm
King of the hill with 9 wins? Ok
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:16 pm
Also Columbia, how many SEC titles does your team have?
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:16 pm
Kings of the hill don’t lose SEC championship games 56-17…just sayin
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:17 pm
Yeah athens idiot, we ended our season with losses to the National Champions and Fsu who is ranked in the top 5 this season. You lost UGLY to Central Fla. Get a clue moron
Jason
August 27th, 2011
11:19 pm
We were a good team in 2005 Athens. Not so much anymore
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:21 pm
Columbia is that an excuse? Losing 56-17? Oh but we lost to the national champions? AND?!
Jason
August 27th, 2011
11:21 pm
This isn’t 2005 anymore. Boise, tcu et al have proven they are not flukes anymore. If we lose Saturday, it could get ugly fast when you rely on freshman
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:22 pm
We shall see Jason. You guys hate to see Georgia getting good press so you bad mouth them. You can’t stand to see UGA staying out of trouble and actually being focused.
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:25 pm
17-6 loser.
I live in the here and now. Not what happened a decade or 30 years ago like you do. Btw, how many td’s did you score against that awesome central fla team?
Gen Neyland
August 27th, 2011
11:26 pm
First things first, Jeffey : You can’t go back to a time when none of the current roster for Boise St was even on campus in comparing scoring vs SEC teams. That’s like saying, ” In 1945, Army won the NC so they must be a team to be reckoned with in 2011…” Be that as it may, I’m in agreement with the final assessment (albeit, Good luck UGA. If it puts me back from winning a trip to Diamond Head, so be it). The rest is all subjective, as is Boise ST…as for the Tennessee game, well, you da man…
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:27 pm
How many teams did you beat last year with a winning record? When you figure that out, get back to me.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
None. But that doesn’t mean we won’t this season.
GA Sandlapper
August 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
Just Spot the Ball! This is going to be the longest week ever!!!
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
We’ll see what your team is all about in 2 weeks
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:30 pm
What’s Richt’s record vs. SC in his time in Athens? Has SC ever beaten UGA back to back while Richt has been here? Richt is 7-3 vs. SC in his tenure and SC has NEVER beaten UGA back to back while Richt has been here. Look out.
Gen Neyland
August 27th, 2011
11:31 pm
…and btw, at this point of the season-nonseason, UGA beats Florida…
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:32 pm
You just make sure Garcia isn’t drunk ok Columbia?
Garcia goes to his locker to grab a pint of liquor….
QB Coach: Garcia what are you doing son? We have a game!
Garcia: I’m easing the pain coach, just easing the pain by drinking.
QB Coach: You can’t do that! Put that down! It’s not worth it!
Garcia: What can you tell me coach?! Your a freakin drunk yourself!
QB Coach: ………gotta point there
GA Sandlapper
August 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
SC has not beaten many of the BIG GUYS in its history… We did beat UGA, TN, Alabama, UF & Clemson last year. Maybe we have started a new tradition.
GF
August 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
Bet you could go back to last year and see the same predictions about uga for 2010. Amazing how people never learn. I’ll take a senior qb coached by spurrier over a sophmore by richt. And I’ll take alshon and marcus over whatever scrubs you throw in, one being a freshman. Advantage SC by a country mile.
Dawg Whisperer
August 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
TampaGator, first, you’re right that UGA is better than UF based on the logic of dawg fans. Second, UGA is better than UF based on objective opinions of some national prognosticators. Third, who cares what you think about dawg fans’ opinions? I don’t care what your opinion is but I respect the fact that you can express it without trying to suppress it.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Excuse me GF, what class was Lattimore last season? I’m confused
GA Sandlapper
August 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
or maybe not..we did lose to Kentucky last year! SC could possibly beat UGA but UGA still win the East. Tougher schedule.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:35 pm
Oh and GF, would you take Stafford’s magical sophomore season? Or Garcia’s bumpy road in his career at SC? Garcia is a DRUNK and can’t win a game if you ask him to.
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:36 pm
Like you said, it’s a new season! Duh! I like our chances a heck of a lot more than yours sans aj.You couldn’t even score a td last year and you talk smack about years past. Get a life.
GF
August 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
Funny I recall a stafford lifting a keg over his head while at uga. But yeah, your guys never do dumb things.
Fair and Balanced
August 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
8-4 is the best Ga can do.
Columbia
August 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
Can’t win a game? He won 3 more than your guy last year, including beating you!! Wow are you a delusional moron.
GA Sandlapper
August 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
Yeah, Garcia has his moments..See Alabama game last year..then see the Bowl game against FSU! Never know who is going to show up. Hopefully Shaw will be a little better this year so Spurrier can pull Garcia early, if need be!
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:38 pm
@ Columbia, your an SC fan on a UGA Blog…you get a life