Georgia Football: 2015 Game-by-Game Schedule Predictions
The 2015 season is rapidly approaching, and the Georgia Bulldogs have a lot of work to do between now and the season opener.
When the Bulldogs start the 2015 season, they will be expected to win the SEC East and have a shot at making the College Football Playoff. But we all know the SEC is a gauntlet where only the strong survive. Georgia has the talent to win the East and the conference, but it will have to play consistent football week in and week out. If the Bulldogs can do that, they will be a relevant team in December and January.
Here are game-by-game predictions for the Bulldogs' 2015 season.
September 5: Vs. Louisiana-Monroe
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With Georgia breaking in a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterback (or two) and a host of new receivers, playing Louisiana-Monroe could be the best season opener for the Bulldogs.
The Warhawks are an overmatched opponent that lost seven of their final eight games last year. But they are used to playing in SEC environments, as they faced LSU, Kentucky and Texas A&M last season. The Bulldogs could get off to a slow start because of the new faces on offense, but they will pull away in the second quarter.
Georgia 45, Louisiana-Monroe 10
September 12: At Vanderbilt
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The Bulldogs will start the SEC leg of their schedule the following week as they travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt. And it was not a 2014 season to remember for the Commodores, as new head coach Derek Mason could not get the same spark former head coach James Franklin did during his stint in Nashville.
This team will be much more competitive in 2015, as it returns a total of 18 starters from last year. However, Mason is just starting the rebuild, and it will take another year for the Commodores to be a threat in the SEC East.
Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 14
September 19: Vs. South Carolina
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The Bulldogs head back home to take on South Carolina, and based on what happened last season, the Bulldogs will be in for another fight.
No matter how good or bad the Gamecocks are each season (more good than bad under head coach Steve Spurrier), they always give Georgia fits. However, with a new quarterback and an unproven defense, the Bulldogs should be able to take down Spurrier and company by a slim margin.
Georgia 28, South Carolina 21
September 26: Vs. Southern
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Georgia will play its second nonconference game of the year when it faces Southern University for the first time in school history. In fact, this will be the first time Georgia will face a historically black college and university.
This will be another opportunity for the Bulldogs to fix some issues before they get back into the SEC leg of the schedule. Southern is no pushover, though, as the Jaguars finished with a 9-4 record last season. But the talent level of both teams is night and day.
Georgia 48, Southern 10
October 3: Vs. Alabama
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This contest could be the biggest and best game of the SEC slate this season. Both teams are favorites to win their respective division, and both teams feature strong running attacks.
For Alabama, it is in the same boat as Georgia, as it is also breaking in a new quarterback. However, it is also breaking in eight other positions on the offensive side of the football, which could mean a slow start for the Crimson Tide.
If there’s one thing you can count on, Nick Saban will have his guys ready, which is why they will likely win the SEC West once again. But they will not go undefeated, and because of this game being at home, the Bulldogs will win in a very close battle.
Georgia 24, Alabama 22
October 10: At Tennessee
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What’s the best way of awarding a team that beat the SEC champs? Have it travel to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Vols, a team that is on the rise.
The Vols are bringing 18 starters back, including quarterback Josh Dobbs, who was able to lead Tennessee to a 4-2 record down the stretch last season. And he will only get better with a talented backfield behind him and an experienced offensive line.
This will be by far the toughest road game the Bulldogs have all season. It will be another closely contested battle, but in the end, the Vols will have a little more firepower.
Tennessee 28, Georgia 24
October 17: Vs. Missouri
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Credit has to go to Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel for being able to develop talent, which has led to back-to-back SEC East championships for the Tigers. That being said, when the Bulldogs host the Tigers on Oct. 17, they will face a team that lost its top running back, top three receivers and top two pass-rushers.
This is another game where the Bulldogs have too much talent and depth for the Tigers to handle. But with an experienced quarterback in Maty Mauk and upcoming talent on offense and defense, this team will be more competitive than last year when it lost to the Bulldogs 34-0.
Georgia 35, Missouri 17
October 31: Vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
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It’s Halloween, and that means the Bulldogs have their annual showdown with the Florida Gators in Jacksonville. And it was a very scary game for Georgia fans last year when the Gators ran over the Bulldogs for a shocking 38-20 upset.
This year’s Gators squad features a new coaching staff, including head coach Jim McElwain, who was previously the head coach at Colorado State. He will inherit great talent on defense, but finding a consistent quarterback is key.
The Bulldogs are once again the more talented team, but that doesn’t matter in this series. This will be a tight game, but the Bulldogs will play a lot better than they showed last year—which will lead to a win.
Georgia 21, Florida 17
November 7: Vs. Kentucky
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Kentucky was one of the better stories of last season's first half as it jumped out to a 5-1 record. But as the competition got tougher, the Wildcats could not keep up and lost their final six games of the year.
They have 14 starters returning this year, including quarterback Patrick Towles, so they have a chance to be bowl-eligible this year. But as much as head coach Mark Stoops will have them ready to play against the Bulldogs, it would be a miracle if they found a way to upset the Bulldogs in Athens.
Georgia 41, Kentucky 21
November 14: At Auburn
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When the Bulldogs played the Auburn Tigers last season, they laid the hammer on them, winning 34-7. Odds are that won’t happen again this year, as the Tigers will be much improved thanks to new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and new quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
This game is always tight and always dramatic. In fact, this series is currently tied with each team holding 55 wins. With the game being held at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn will likely have the edge. However, the road team in this series usually plays well, and the Bulldogs should do just enough to squeak past the Tigers.
Georgia 38, Auburn 35
November 21: Vs. Georgia Southern
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After finishing the SEC part of their schedule, the Bulldogs will take on Georgia Southern in the team's home finale. The Eagles had a great 2014 season, winning the Sun Belt Conference in their first year in the FBS. They should be a favorite to win the conference again this year with 13 starters returning.
Because the Eagles run an option offense, they typically give Georgia fits, especially in the first half. And it will be the same result this year, as Eagles quarterback Kevin Ellison is a master at running this offense.
However, once Georgia settles in, it will pull away from the Eagles in the second half, which should happen again this season.
Georgia 41, Georgia Southern 21
November 28: At Georgia Tech
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The last two times Georgia and Georgia Tech have faced each other, the game has gone into overtime. And it could happen again this season, as both schools are looking to win their respective conferences.
With quarterback Justin Thomas and an experienced defense, the Yellow Jackets are going to once again push Georgia to the limit, which was one of the reasons why Georgia Tech won last year. And with this game being held at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the Yellow Jackets will be more than fired up to beat Georgia for the second consecutive season.
However, head coach Mark Richt is not used to losing to Georgia Tech, as he has only lost to the Yellow Jackets twice since 2001. He will have his guys ready for another battle this year, and the Bulldogs will make one more play to come away with a win to end the regular season.
Georgia 35, Georgia Tech 28
Overall Record: 11-1 (7-1 in SEC)
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