The heavy favorites to retain their SEC East crown and represent the division in Atlanta again in December; Georgia is a team with high expectations in 2018. The Bulldogs are looking to go one better after losing to Alabama in the 2017 National Championship Game last season, and head coach Kirby Smart knows that nothing less than a CFP place is going to be enough for the Athens faithful this fall.
By Steve Wright
September
9/1/18 Austin Peay – An opening day snoozer in Athens, this will develop into a Georgia blitz before the game (mercifully) ends. Georgia 49, Austin Peay 0.
9/8/18 @ South Carolina – It is interesting that the biggest game in the SEC East happens in Week 2, well before either the Bulldogs or the Gamecocks will be into their stride. Georgia should hold the edge in the ground game with its veteran offensive line opening holes for D’Andre Swift. Georgia 27, South Carolina 21.
9/15/18 Middle Tennessee – It will take Georgia a minute to get going against Middle Tennessee, but the offensive balance that Smart has at his fingertips will take over this game. Georgia 38, Middle Tennessee 7.
9/22/18 @ Missouri – Drew Lock is coming off of a 2017 season where he set the SEC record for touchdown passes with 44. Receiver Emanuel Hall killed the Bulldogs last year with two long touchdowns, and he returns to do more damage. This one is certainly no gimme. Georgia 35, Missouri 27.
9/29/18 Tennessee – There is a little extra animosity in this clash in 2018. New Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt was not retained by Smart as the Georgia DC when the latter took over from Mark Richt. Pruitt knows how to coach a defense – he showed that at both Georgia and Alabama – but does Tennessee have enough on offense to cause the Bulldogs problems? Georgia 27, Tennessee 10.
October
10/6/18 Vanderbilt – Derek Mason needs his Commodores to be better in 2018 after the team took a step back last season. QB Kyle Shurmur is a threat, but the skills positions on offense will feature a number of untested players heading into 2018. That is not ideal against a team like Georgia. Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 20.
10/13/18 @ LSU – We have no idea how good (or bad) LSU will be in 2018. Some of the projections for their season have them missing a bowl because of everything they lost from a year ago. Even so, an October visit to Death Valley is always going to be one of the more difficult SEC road trips. Georgia 31, LSU 17,
10/20/18 BYE
10/27/18 Florida (in Jacksonville) – Dan Mullen will have Florida competitive in this game eventually, but it won’t be in 2018. Georgia takes over Jacksonville again with a balanced offensive display. Georgia 38, Florida 14.
November
11/3/18 @ Kentucky – TRAP GAME ALERT. The placing of this game – and the fact it is against a Kentucky side that still seems to be improving (without breaking through) – means that this is one that Smart will have to earn his money to have his Bulldogs up for the challenge. Georgia 28, Kentucky 17.
11/10/18 Auburn – This 2017 SEC Championship Game rematch will likely go a long way towards determining the participants for that game – and for the CFP – in 2018. Auburn has revenge on its mind, but this game being in Athens is a huge factor that tips it in the Bulldogs favor. Georgia 28, Auburn 20.
11/17/18 UMass – Traditional SEC late season fodder. Georgia 52, UMass 0.
11/24/18 Georgia Tech – The timing of this game is always a strange one. Georgia figures to be heading into this with the SEC East title already in hand and a trip to Atlanta to make a week later. Passing the eye test is important here, and playing the Yellow Jackets at home is a big deal. Georgia 27, Georgia Tech 21.
Be the first to comment