Georgia Football: Ranking the Hardest Games on the 2015 Schedule
Georgia head coach Mark Richt is entering his 15th year in Athens, and this could be the year where he finally meets all the expectations that fans, students and alumni have set for his team since he arrived on campus.
The 2015 schedule sets up well for the Bulldogs (at least in the beginning) to where they can make a run at the SEC title as well as the College Football Playoff. However, the SEC is never easy, and in order for Georgia to get over the hump, it will need to fight through an SEC schedule that could be quite challenging.
So which game will be the toughest for the Bulldogs? Which team (or teams) could give them the most trouble as they try to win their first SEC title in 10 years?
Here are the rankings for the hardest games on the 2015 schedule.
No. 12: Southern University, September 26
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For the first time ever, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Southern University Jaguars will do battle.
For those who don’t know, Southern University is a historically black college from Louisiana that plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Jaguars are one of the more successful programs in the conference, winning the conference title in 2013 and losing in the conference championship game last year.
This will be a tune-up game for the Bulldogs, as they will play in six straight SEC games afterward. This will be a great opportunity for Southern because it will get a lot of money for the program. But it will be in for a rude awakening when it goes between the hedges against Georgia on September 26.
No. 11: Louisiana-Monroe, September 5
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This will be the fourth time the Bulldogs have faced Louisiana-Monroe, with the last meeting being 10 years ago when the Bulldogs ran over the Warhawks, 44-7.
ULM is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2014 season, going 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Sun Belt Conference play. Facing Georgia in the season opener could be an ugly way to start the season, but it could also help them learn a lot of things about themselves before they start the conference leg of their schedule.
Georgia has had its share of tough season openers the past few years. It’s good that this one won’t be as difficult because of the opponent and the game being at home.
No. 10: At Vanderbilt, September 12
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The week after the Bulldogs take on Louisiana-Monroe, they will have their first road game of the year when they face Vanderbilt.
Derek Mason did not have a great debut as the Commodores head coach last year, going winless in SEC play. And now that he’s also taking on the defensive coordinator position, it will make things doubly challenging for him.
Georgia has had its share of fits with the Commodores over the last few years, and 17 starters return from last season for Vanderbilt. However, the Bulldogs have more depth as well as more talent. This game should not be as challenging as it has been in the past.
No. 9: Kentucky, November 7
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Kentucky was able to do some good things last year under head coach Mark Stoops. But it only won two conference games and doesn't look vastly improved this year.
With this game being in Athens, the Bulldogs should be able to win big against a Kentucky team that struggles on the offensive line and lost its two top pass-rushers in Za’Darius Smith and Bud Dupree.
Wildcats quarterback Patrick Towles will challenge the Bulldogs a little bit, but the Bulldogs defense should force him into making mistakes. The offense should be more in sync at this point of the season to where they can score 40 points per game.
No. 8: South Carolina, September 19
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Georgia has not had a lot of good luck against South Carolina. Even in good years, the Gamecocks have been a thorn in the Bulldogs’ side.
However, this team is not where it used to be because of issues on defense and at quarterback.
With this game being early in the season, the Bulldogs will have a great chance to pounce on the Gamecocks early before they get their feet wet. This should be a convincing win for the Bulldogs despite the mystique of Steve Spurrier.
No. 7: Georgia Southern, November 21
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Georgia Southern might be a little high on this list, but when push comes to shove, it deserves to be No. 7.
In its first year in the Sun Belt Conference, Georgia Southern went undefeated in conference play and almost defeated N.C. State and Georgia Tech. Its option-style offense frustrated opponents all season long, and it should be no different this season.
Any time the Eagles face the Bulldogs in Athens, the Eagles put up a fight because their offense can be difficult to defend.
The Bulldogs always come out on top—and they will again this season—but if they are not careful, Georgia Southern could earn its biggest win in school history.
No. 6: At Georgia Tech, November 28
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Right after the Bulldogs face Georgia Southern in the final home game of the season, they will take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
2014 was a great year for Tech. Not only did the Yellow Jackets win the ACC Coastal and the Orange Bowl, they were able to beat Georgia in Athens.
Quarterback Justin Thomas will be back, and he will lead an offense that will run at Georgia like last season. Georgia normally has Tech’s number, especially during the Mark Richt era, but after what happened last year (and even in 2013 when the Bulldogs won in overtime), the Bulldogs know they are in for a battle at the Flats.
No. 5: Florida (in Jacksonville), October 31
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Last year, Florida ran over Georgia in Jacksonville, which surprised many considering the Gators struggled mightily on offense all season long. This season, the Gators have a new coach in Jim McElwain as well as a new offensive and defensive coordinator.
Georgia has won three of the last four matchups against Florida, but after the way Florida was able to beat the Bulldogs last year, one would think the ghosts of Jacksonville are back to haunt the Bulldogs.
That shouldn’t be the case this season, but for some reason the Bulldogs lose a little something whenever they play Florida in Jacksonville, even if they end up winning.
No. 4: Missouri, October 17
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Believe it or not, the Tigers are the two-time defending SEC East champions, and they have a legitimate shot of winning it again this season with 12 starters returning.
The last time Georgia played Missouri in Athens, the Tigers won by 15 points en route to their first SEC East title. However, when the Bulldogs played the Tigers last season, Nick Chubb was able to run over the Mizzou defense to lead the Bulldogs to a dominating win.
Athens will be a rocking place when these two go at it. But Bulldog fans know Missouri will bring its A-game, and the Bulldogs will have to do the same.
No. 3 at Tennessee, October 10
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After years of trials and tribulations, this could be the year Tennessee has the breakout season that every Vols fan has been waiting for. They have the quarterback for it in Josh Dobbs, and head coach Butch Jones has his players improving each season.
Georgia has had its share of troubles with the Volunteers over the last two seasons, but it has come away with a win each year. This season could be different because the offensive line will be better, the defense will be better and Dobbs will be a lot better.
This will be a challenging road game for the Bulldogs. However, there is one last road game that will be much harder.
No. 2: At Auburn, November 14
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Last year, Georgia dominated Auburn in Athens in its best win of the season. The Tigers want revenge, and with new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, they will be ready to go in this late-season battle.
This is probably the closest SEC rivalry series as both teams have won 55 games each. Normally, the road team does well in this series, but this Auburn team in 2015 will be improved, and it wants to take Georgia down in the worst way. There could be a lot on the line for Georgia at this point of the season, so this has a chance to be an elimination game for both teams when it comes to the SEC championship.
No. 1: Alabama, October 3
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This is not only the hardest game on the schedule for the Bulldogs; this could be the biggest home game since 2008 when Georgia took on Alabama, which was the last time these two teams met in the regular season.
Alabama will have a different look to it in 2015, and a lot of it has to do with the Tide only fielding nine returning starters. However, any team coached by Nick Saban will be ready to play each and every week.
The good for the Bulldogs is the game will be played in Athens, so that does give Georgia the edge. However, in order to beat a Saban-coached Alabama team, Georgia has to hit the Tide in the mouth, just like Alabama has been doing to every opponent over the last six years.
This is one of the games that the entire college football world will be watching, and despite this being an early-season contest, the Bulldogs need to win the game in order to be a team to watch in the College Football Playoff race.
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