Georgia Football: Predicting the 2011 Season Game by Game

The University of Georgia will seek to make fans forget about their 6-7 season last year and the first losing season under head coach Mark Richt. They will also try to make the hot seat under Richt a little cooler, and the only way to do that is to win.

Georgia brought in the sixth ranked recruiting class according the ESPN, and all signs point to a fast and swift turn around for the Bulldogs.

Georgia has a schedule that will provide plenty of tests, starting off against Boise State in Atlanta on September 3. This game will dictate a lot for the season and could be a key factor in whether or not the 2011 campaign will be more successful than the 2010 one.

Boise State

The season starts off with a bang for the Georgia squad, and that bang happens to be Boise State.

Boise State is coming off of an 11-1, and while they will have to replace some key players, at the core they still have Heisman candidate Kellen Moore, who, by season's end, may just be the most successful college quarterback ever.

This will be the marquee game where Georgia either shows how much they've improved, or they show how much work they still have to go.

Georgia has plenty going for them as well. Aaron Murray is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC and he's only a sophomore.

The Georgia offense will need to find a replacement for A.J. Green as soon as possible, and they will need true freshman running back Isiah Crowell to step into the starting running back role immediately with the departures of Washaun Ealy and Kaleb King.

Prediction: Boise State has to travel into SEC territory, and they will be going against a very hungry Georgia team. In terms of being bold, I think Georgia wins in the waning moments of the game by a field goal. 24-21.

South Carolina

South Carolina is loaded with offensive talent. Running back Marcus Lattimore will be heavily favored to be in the Heisman hunt. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is one of the best in the country, and quarterback Stephen Garcia isn't great, but he's not bad either.

Defensively, they have some good players, Stephon Gilmore is one of the best corners in the country, but it seems like all eyes will be on true freshman Jadeveon Clowney, the top ranked prospect in the country.

If Georgia is coming off of a victory over Boise State, this game could have a whole new dynamic. Georgia will be hungry for another win, or they will be looking for their first win.

This will be a home game for the 'Dawgs and the start of their SEC play. South Carolina is going to be a very good team this year, and they just might get over the hump and become a BCS worthy team, but they will have a lot of work ahead of them as well.

Prediction: In classic SEC form, Georgia will pull out a win on account of Aaron Murray, who will need to have a monster game in order to put points up on the board. South Carolina will put up quite a fight, but Georgia will prevail in the end. 31-24.

Coastal Carolina

Boise State and South Carolina is a tough way to start a season for any team, but if there's a recovery game, it's Coastal Carolina for Georgia.

Coastal Carolina, an FCS school, is coming off of a 6-6 year in 2010. A trip to Georgia isn't going to be a pleasant one.

Georgia will be able to handle Coastal Carolina with ease; don't expect any upsets on the radar for this contest.

Murray will have a huge day as well, as Crowell and Georgia will roll.

Prediction: Georgia will win 56-10.

Ole Miss

Ole Miss is in a similar situation as Georgia. Their coach is on the hot seat, and Houston Nutt and their program are in limbo after an unsuccessful 4-8 season in 2010.

They have plenty of returning players on offense, but just three returning starters on defense, which isn't good considering how many points they gave up last season. The Rebels will be riding on the back of running back Brandon Bolden, who will be a senior.

Although Georgia will be traveling to Ole Miss, this game shouldn't be a problem, and Georgia should win. Murray will have another good game. Defensively, the 'Dawgs could run into some troubles. Ole Miss returns their entire offensive line and will be tough to stop.

If true freshman Ray Drew can provide the pass rushing ability as Justin Houston did last year, this defense is going to thrive.

Prediction: Georgia wins 35-17.

Mississippi State

Although Boise State and South Carolina will be extremely tough tests for Georgia, Mississippi State might be their toughest.

Mississippi State is coming off of a successful 9-4 season where they capped it all off by destroying Michigan in the Gator Bowl.

Mississippi State will have eight returning starters on offense and seven returning starters on defense. They should be a lot better in 2011 than they were in 2010 and could possibly be undefeated at this point in the season.

This will be a battle, and both teams will have to make key plays throughout the game in order to win. Both teams could be ranked in the top 15 or possibly the top 10, which would give this game even more hype.

Georgia will be red hot coming into the contest if they are undefeated, but Mississippi might be too tough for them.

Prediction: Georgia will come out swinging, but Mississippi State will come out as the victor in this contest, 38-31.

Tennessee

Georgia will be coming off of their first loss of the season if my predictions go according to plan, and they will be angry and looking for instant relief. Unfortunately for Tennessee, they will be the team that Georgia unloads on.

Tennessee finished last year with a 6-7 record. They too will be in a rebuilding phase, but unlike Georgia, they didn't bring in a top recruiting class. They do, however, have some nice pieces to work with. They bring back four starters on the offensive line, and quarterback Tyler Bray and Tauren Poole combine for some offensive weapons as well as wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers.

Another thing Tennessee will have going for them is that this is a home game, which will help in their cause, but Georgia will still be tough to handle.

By this time in the year, Georgia should be playing at a consistent level, and although they will be coming off a loss, they will still be tough to handle.

Prediction: Georgia prevails, 28-17.

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt, which isn't saying a lot, but they are starting to get some nice recruits in. At the same time, they will need to wait a year or two before those recruits emerge as playmakers.

This is an away game for Georgia, and it's never a safe assumption to say that it's an easy win, but on paper, that's exactly what it looks like.

Vanderbilt lost to Georgia 43-0 last season, and the 2011 result might be worse.

Prediction: Georgia win 56-3.

Florida

This will be the biggest game of the season for Georgia. The annual game against Florida in Jacksonville. The biggest cocktail party in the country.

This year's contest will be every bit as advertised, and Florida could either be coming in red hot, or they will be coming in average. It all depends on how the offense is working under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and how the new defense is working for new head coach Will Muschamp.

Florida returns plenty of talent at every position, and if they mesh right, they could enter this game undefeated, but games against Alabama and LSU make that unlikely.

Georgia will be entering the game with possibly just one loss and will have good chemistry and consistency, but still, Florida is always such a tough game.

Georgia lost to Florida last season in overtime and will have that in the back of their minds, but will Murray be able to lead the offense against a revamped Florida defense?

Prediction: Florida wins in another nail biter, 35-31.

New Mexico State

New Mexico State is a very bad team. That's not going to change in 2011. Add in the fact that they will have to go to Georgia for this game, and that just spells disaster.

Georgia will be coming off of a loss to Florida, which will fuel them even more, and they won't want to be the joke of college football by losing to New Mexico State at home.

Georgia will easily beat New Mexico State and will move their focus to the next game against Auburn.

Prediction: Georgia roles, 59-10.

Auburn

Auburn brought in another good recruiting class that will combine with the talent already on the roster, but Cameron Newton leaves a gigantic hole to fill.

Running back Michael Dyer should have a massive year in terms of production running the ball, but they will need to break in a new quarterback. The line returns just one starter, and the defense returns just four starters.

Still, Auburn has a lot of hype around them this season and will be defending their National Championship. The Tigers have to travel to Georgia for the game, which will give Georgia a slight advantage.

If Auburn finds a reliable quarterback to run the offense and the defense finds players to step up, they could have another great season, but those are big question marks.

Prediction: Georgia wins, but not by much. 27-21

Kentucky

Joker Phillips has Kentucky moving in the right direction. They finished 6-7 last season, which was good for his first year, but the road will get tougher this season.

Kentucky will play Louisville, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State and of course, Georgia.

Their match-up against Georgia won't end in their favor, either. Kentucky certainly isn't a team to overlook, but Georgia is going to be too much for them.

Last year, Georgia won 44-31 against Kentucky, and a similar result is on the horizon.

Prediction: Georgia wins again, 49-28.

Georgia Tech

The in-state rivalry with Georgia Tech is always a good game to watch, and 2011 won't be any different, but Georgia Tech is struggling, and that won't change this season, especially with Josh Nesbitt graduating. Tevin Washington knows the offense from filling in for Nesbitt last season when he was injured, but he isn't as productive.

Georgia Tech lost to Georgia last season 42-34, and the result might not be much different this year, but it could go the opposite way.

Georgia Tech returns six starters on offense, and they will want to prove that Paul Johnson's option attack is still hard to defend.

This is the last game of the regular season and very important. Predictions are always a sketchy thing, and both teams can either be experiencing great turn-arounds or disappointing seasons again.With that being said, Georgia seems like they have a lot going for them right now. With a great recruiting class and hopefully a great season behind them at this junction, they should be able to win this game yet again.

Prediction: Georgia over Georgia Tech, 35-28.

SEC Championship

Assuming that Georgia makes it to the SEC Championship, they will most likely be facing Alabama or LSU. Both teams provide extremely tough tests for Georgia, and both teams look to be able to handle the Bulldogs.

If Georgia does make the SEC Championship, that will be quite a turnaround from their 6-7 campaign last season.

Georgia will have their hands full with 'Bama or LSU, and unfortunately, I think 'Bama and LSU both can beat Georgia.

Prediction: Georgia loses by a couple of touchdowns to either LSU or Alabama.