SEC Football Q&A: Can Georgia Beat Alabama and Run the Table?

The first month of the season brought the college football world plenty to discuss, including Tennessee head coach Butch Jones' inability to close, Georgia's surprise surge and an SEC West that's about as jumbled as it can get through four weeks.

We'll hit the burning questions that have popped up during the first month of the season in this week's SEC Q&A.

That's a big "if," because while Alabama has a loss already, the teams that typically give Alabama trouble are those with mobile quarterbacks and those that can stretch the field deep.

Georgia has neither.

With that said, though, it should be a tough battle between Georgia's running backs and offensive line versus the vaunted Alabama front seven. It's the toughest test of the season for Georgia, by far.

If the Bulldogs clear that hurdle, yes, winning out would be a legitimate possibility.

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It's hard to draw up a scenario in which Georgia would be underdogs for the rest of the regular season, and it could be the favorite in the SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome depending on what the matchup is and how rosters look at that point.

However, this is the same program that is known for that one inexplicable loss even in its good seasons. The Bulldogs got run by a mediocre Florida team last year, lost to Vanderbilt in 2013, lost at home to 6-6 South Carolina in 2007 and will have to avoid that one "uh oh" moment if they get past Alabama.

As long as head coach Mark Richt can avoid that, Georgia should be able to run the table after the Alabama game. That's much easier said (or written) than done, though.

Ultimately, I think it'll be a nonissue.

Alabama will have success slowing (not stopping) running back Nick Chubb and making Georgia one-dimensional. While quarterback Greyson Lambert has been marvelously efficient over the last two weeks, throwing just two incomplete passes, he'll be harassed by Bama's front seven and make a couple of mistakes, and Georgia will suffer its first loss of the season.

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Come on.

I know Butch Jones hasn't learned how to close the door in the SEC, lets the moment get too big for him in big situations, is 1-12 versus ranked opponents in two-plus years in Knoxville and has a remarkable lack of trust in his passing game.

But at least he's in big situations.

Is Tennessee going to live up to the hype—which I was partially responsible for building?

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Probably not.

The Vols are 2-2 (0-1 SEC), don't boast an offense that's anywhere close to championship-level, and trusting Jones to do the right thing at this point seems like an exercise in futility.

Still, they only have one loss in conference, will get Georgia at home the week after the Bulldogs host the always physical Alabama Crimson Tide, and Florida's cross-division schedule (Ole Miss, at LSU) is daunting.

The Vols will need some help, but an SEC East title is not out of the question, provided Jones evolves and the passing game improves. Even if it doesn't, what's the worst-case scenario for Tennessee? An 8-4 regular season? Maybe 7-5 if you factor in an upset along the way?

That's progress for Jones, who finished the regular season last year 6-6. No, it's not a gigantic leap, but it's progress. You don't fire your coach while he's showing improvement if you're Tennessee—a program that was spinning its wheels for years prior to his arrival.

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Irrevocably exposed is probably a bit strong. Exposed for those 60 minutes? Sure.

That should be concerning for Texas A&M fans but not something that changes their impression of the 2015 Aggies overall. Give credit where credit is due. Arkansas' offensive line is top-notch, and running back Alex Collins—who ripped off 151 yards and a touchdown against the Aggies—is one of the SEC's best backs.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

It was a stretch to think Texas A&M's defense would suddenly become one of the SEC's best over the course of defensive coordinator John Chavis' first offseason in College Station. That wasn't—and shouldn't—be the expectation.

It wasn't a great showing for Texas A&M, sure. It gave up three scores in the red zone to Arkansas, and the Hogs converted five of their 10 third-down opportunities. But two turnovers were nice, and the "bend but don't break" attitude of the defense is a massive step forward from last year's crew, which shattered early and often.

Texas A&M will be fine.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.