Installment number three takes us to the demolition derby that is Athens, GA.
GAME 4, SEP 27: at GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Coach: Kirby Smart (9 seasons: 105–19 overall, 62–11 SEC) has achieved many great things in Athens, including 32 consecutive wins at Sanford Stadium. However, one stain mars his legacy to date. He is 1-6 against against the team whose defense he coached for nine campaigns – eight as defensive coordinator. When Nick Saban retired, observers figured he could finally put this thorn-in-his-side to rest. But it did not work out that way last season. Now, Smart and the Bulldogs get their personal boogeyman at home in 2025 with a great deal on the line. No pressure or anything.
2024 UGA record: 11-3 (6-2 SEC)
CB 2024 Prediction: 10-2; I got this one right but had a loss to Alabama and Texas rather than Alabama and Ole Miss.
Looking back: After dropping Clemson in Atlanta and then pushing a pair of punching bags aside, the Bulldogs had a nationally televised faceplant in Tuscaloosa for their first regular season SEC loss since 2020. UGA rebounded with four straight conference wins including a W at No. 1 Texas. That achievement was followed by an ass-whupping at Ole Miss. The Doggies topped Tennessee and so-called rival Georgia Tech to finish the regular season. In a rematch, Georgia again topped the Longhorns, but this time in the SEC Championship Game. Even with that trophy for the trophy case, the flawed Bulldogs had one more flat performance in them and got throttled in the College Football Playoff by Notre Dame.
Returning starters: 3 on offense, 4 on defense, kicker and punter*.
Key losses: A LOT! EDGE Mykel Williams (Round 1, 49ers), EDGE Jalon Walker (Round 1, Falcons), S Malaki Starks (Round 1, Ravens), G Tate Ratledge (Round 2, Lions), G Dylan Fairchild (Round 3, Bengals), C Jared Wilson (Round 3, Patriots), RB Trevor Etienne (Round 4, Panthers), WR Arian Smith (Round 4, Jets), DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (Round 5, Vikings), LB Smael Mondon Jr. (Round 5, Eagles), DT Warren Brinson (Round 6, Packers), S Dan Jackson (Round 7, Lions), WR Dominic Lovett (Round 7, Lions), DT Nazir Stackhouse, G Xavier Truss, EDGE Chaz Chambliss, TE Ben Yurosek, QB Carson Beck (xfer to Miami), EDGE Damon Wilson (Mizzou)
Top returnees: leading rusher Nate Frazier (681 yds, 8 TD), TE Oscar Delp (248yds, 4 TD), OL Earnest Greene, CB Daylen Everette, WR Dillon Bell (466 yds, 4 TD). PK Peyton Woodring, P Brett Thorson, CB Daniel Harris, WR Noah Thomas, WR Colbie Young, DT Christen Miller, DB KJ Bolden, LB CJ Allen
Top newcomers: WR/PR Zachariah Branch (Southern Cal, also brought along his much less talented brother DB Zion Branch), WR Noah Thomas (TAMU), JACK Elo Modozie (Army, BOOO! on guys leaving the service academies), RB Josh McCray (Illinois, 609 yds, 10 TD)
Strengths: Secondary should be strong… D-Line is good, but not elite… Deep at inside linebacker… WR might be good… PK Peyton Woodring was 21-23 on field goals last season with his only misses being from 55 and 53… Only one new coach at nickelbacks…
Weaknesses: Only one returning starter on the offensive line. Newbies include OC Mike Bobo’s baby boy, Drew Bobo, at center… Nate Fraizer is back at RB but he had a spotty 2024. The Illinois back is okay, but nothing great. Inexperienced guys back them up… Edge rusher is a big question mark… * Punter Brett Thorson tore an ACL in the SEC Championship Game. Will he be back and if so, will he be effective?… Last year’s team rarely put four good quarters together. Have they improved in that department?…
Outlook: The returning starters numbers are a bit deceiving. UGA lost a ton of talent to the NFL and graduation but only brought in three transfers to fill those holes. Smart has a deep roster and is implementing “old school” next-man-up strategy in this transfer-maniacal world. But are they enough?
At first glance, it seems like a downgrade at quarterback and the guy he is replacing was massively flawed. Gunner Stockton looks like another Stetson Bennett-Jake Fromm-Joe Cox-Aaron Murray-David Greene-etc type. However, it doesn’t look like this game manager has the usual tools around him or the typical stalwart Bulldogs defense to bail him out. Zachariah Branch will help a depleted receiving corps, but the former Trojan has yet to live up to his 2023 recruiting 5-star billing (3 TDs in 2 seasons in South Central L.A.).
It is still a Kirby Smart defense who should be among the nation’s best. Yet a good deal of guys will be becoming starters and/or contributors for the first time.
Georgia Win Total Per FanDuel
Over 9.5 Wins -172 (bet $172 to profit $100)
Under 9.5 Wins +140 (bet $100 to profit $140)
2025 GEORGIA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
Sat, Aug 30 vs Marshall (+39.5) – W
Sat, Sep 6 vs Austin Peay – W
Sat, Sep 13 @ Tennessee (+7.5) – W – UT has taken a unexpected step back, but this will be the first trip to Knoxville for many of these Bulldogs.
Sat, Sep 20 bye
Sat, Sep 27 vs Alabama (+4.5) – L – This is NOT a Gump pick. It just feels like Bama is a better team, especially at the line of scrimmage.
Sat, Oct 4 vs Kentucky – W
Sat, Oct 11 @ Auburn (+6.5) – W – Alabama is not the only team who is bewitched by the Jerdin-Hair’s Hoodoo VooDoo. It’ll be close but UGA should prevail.
Sat, Oct 18 vs Ole Miss (+10.5) – W – I can’t see the Dawgs losing to OM again. Especially not at home.
Sat, Oct 25 bye
Sat, Nov 1 vs Florida (+7.5) ** – W – The Gators are improved but always seem to poop the bed in this one.
Sat, Nov 8 @ Mississippi State – W
Sat, Nov 15 vs Texas (+2.5) – W – Revenge for the ‘Horns? Maybe, but probably not.
Sat, Nov 22 vs Charlotte – W
Fri, Nov 28 vs Georgia Tech (+13.5) *** – W
** WLOCP, Jacksonville, FL
*** Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
I’m sorry that I look like such a Gump with these picks. That is just how it unfolds for me. Getting Bama, OM, and Texas at home, plus neutral site meetings with Florida and Georgia Tech will help the Bulldogs again get to double-digit wins. 10-2 seems more realistic, but from whence might those two setbacks occur?
Poll
Georgia’s 2025 regular season wins:
2025 ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:
#NoCupcakes
Sat, Aug 30 @ Florida StateSat, Sep 6 vs UL Monroe
Sat, Sep 13 vs Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 27 @ Georgia
Sat, Oct 4 vs Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 11 @ Missouri
Sat, Oct 18 vs Tennessee
Sat, Oct 25 @ South Carolina
Sat, Nov 8 vs LSU
Sat, Nov 15 vs OklahomaSat, Nov 22 vs Eastern Illinois
Sat, Nov 29 @ Auburn
