2012 Georgia Bulldogs Football: Breaking Down Each Opponent on the Schedule

When the 2012 SEC schedules were released on December 28th, the rest of the SEC had to look at the Bulldogs with envy.  Georgia drew what many feel is the easiest schedule in the conference.  There are two key road games; at new SEC member, Missouri and at South Carolina, but the schedule is very manageable, as the East is still a year or two away from closing the gap on the West.

Georgia has to love its chances to be back in Atlanta for the 2012 SEC Championship...if not more.

September 1st: Buffalo

2011 Record: 3-9 (2-6 MAC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 77th

Rushing: 61st

Points For: 97th

Points Against: 83rd

Common Opponent: Tennessee (L 41-10)

The Buffalo Bulls have gone a combined 5-19 since Turner Gill departed for a very unsuccessful stint at Kansas.  Buffalo joined the FBS in 1999 and after years of futility, Gill turned the Bulls into the MAC champion in 2008

The Bulls will be replacing senior quarterback Chazz Anderson with the only other Bull to throw a pass in 2011, junior Alex Zordich.  Buffalo relies heavily on a rushing attack that features junior Branden Oliver at tailback.  Quarterback Chazz Anderson was second on the team in rushing.

The first cupcake of the season comes in the first game...

September 8th: @ Missouri

2011 Record: 8-5 (5-4 Big 12)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 64th

Rushing: 10th

Points For: 32nd

Points Against: 43rd

Much like most seasons, the Bulldogs will open up conference play in Columbia or Athens on the second Saturday of the season.  This one just happens to be Columbia, Missouri, and it will be the Missouri Tigers' first SEC conference game, not only of the season, but ever.

Gary Pinkel's squad deviated from the preconceived notions of a Big 12 team during the 2011 season.  While they spread the field, the Tigers relied on a potent rushing game that was lead by Henry Josey, an upcoming junior who was injured in the Texas game, and missed the final two games of the regular season and the Independence Bowl victory over North Carolina.  Another upcoming junior, James Franklin, filled in admirably by averaging 93 yards per game in Josey's absence.

Missouri was a very inconsistent team throughout the 2011 season, until it seems, they found their stride by closing the season with a four-game winning streak.

The Tigers' five losses for the 2011 season: at Arizona State in overtime, at No. 1 Oklahoma, at No. 20 Kansas State, at No. 4 Oklahoma State and at Baylor (Rankings reflect opponents ranking at the time of the game).

Two words: Very dangerous...

September 15th: Florida Atlantic

2011 Record: 1-11 (0-8 Sun Belt)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 111th

Rushing: 108th

Points For: 119th

Points Against: 103rd

Common Opponents: Florida (L 41-3), Michigan State (L 44-0), Auburn (L 30-14)

Legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger took the Florida Atlantic Owls to two bowl victories in just their second and third seasons as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision.  However the last three years the Owls have seen their win total drop each year from five to four to one.

The Owls were easily one of the worst teams of 2011, and not a lot is going to change except the head coach.  The football program hired its second coach in its history—former University of Nebraska defensive coordinator, Carl Pelini.

Senior Graham Wilber will be the incumbent starting quarterback heading into spring practice.  The Owls' leading rusher, Alfred Morris, is gone, and their second leading rusher in 2011 only had 35 carries for 88 yards.

This is a complete mismatch...Cupcake No. 2

September 22nd: Vanderbilt

2011 Record: 6-7 (2-6 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 97th

Rushing: 48th

Points For: 61st

Points Against: 29th

2011 Outcome: W 33-28

James Franklin has the Commodores heading in the right direction, after taking them to a bowl game in his first season as head coach, when he was thrust into the situation.  

The offense finally found a signal caller in Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers.  Leading rusher Zac Stacy is returning, as is leading receiver, Jordan Matthews

The defense was very stingy in 2011; ranking in the top 30 in the nation for points allowed per game.

They are also very scrappy as Bulldog fans can attest after this past year when they just would not go away, as Georgia tried to pull away.

September 29th: Tennessee

2011 Record: 5-7 (1-7 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 50th

Rushing: 116th

Points For: 106th

Points Against: 36th

2011 Outcome: W 20-12

Tennessee was decimated by injuries last year as leading receiver Justin Hunter missed the last nine games of the season after going down early in their game with Florida (so, technically 10).  Quarterback Tyler Bray did not play in five games toward the end of the season after a hand injury suffered against Georgia.

Since Derek Dooley left Louisiana Tech, they seem to have risen, and while they don't play in the SEC, I think "Kid Dooley" is in a little bit over his head.  Freshman wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett has already transferred to Michigan State, and quite frankly I could see more defections as time passes.  The loss to Kentucky to close out the season is just unacceptable on Rocky Top.

The Volunteers had no rushing game to speak of this past season with their leading rusher, Tauren Poole, only gaining 693 yards.  The team averaged only 90 yards per game, which was almost dead last in the nation.

After all of the negativity surrounding the program, they do have All-SEC wideout Da'Rick Rogers, the return of Justin Hunter, a very talented defense but with no direction and very inconsistent.  This could be Dooley's (11-15 record at Tennessee) last year in Knoxville as the Vols are currently not hot on the recruiting trail..

October 6th: @ South Carolina

2011 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 95th

Rushing: 25th

Points For: 42nd

Points Against: 11th

2011 Outcome: L 45-42

Ahhh...The one that got away.  This game, although midway through the season, will show how the East will be won.  

Steve Spurrier just completed the first 11-win season at South Carolina, despite losing their main offensive weapon Marcus Lattimore.  The expected loss of Melvin Ingram will be devastating to their defense that kept them in every game.  For once, since prior to the Stephen Garcia, the Gamecocks are settled at quarterback with Connor Shaw.  

After all of the fuss that was made about the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs schedule, the only team that can be argued that UGA didn't play and South Carolina did was Arkansas.  That should have given them one conference loss and a spot in the SEC Championship.  Instead, Auburn beat the Gamecocks on their own turf at Williams-Brice Stadium, 16-13.  Georgia beat the same team 45-7, between the hedges.  

The Gamecocks have kept the series interesting recently with hotly contested games (four out of the last six matchups have been decided by a touchdown or less).  I expect nothing less on October 6th, 2012 in Columbia, SOUTH CAROLINA.

October 20th: @ Kentucky

2011 Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 114th

Rushing: 90th

Points For: 117th

Points Against: 53rd

2011 Outcome: W 19-10

I have no idea what it is about this team, because everything they do is hard to watch, but in my opinion, the victory over Tennessee for the first time since 1984 to close out the regular season probably saved Joker Phillips' job.

They play Georgia tough every year, and in 2012 the Bulldogs travel to Lexington.  The games shouldn't be close but for some reason the Wildcats are always there in the end.  

The Wildcats started a freshman quarterback, Maxwell Smith, who will only continue to grow, as you would expect for the rest of a very young Kentucky team.  For the sake of Joker Phillips, they better.

October 27th: Florida (Jacksonville)

2011 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 89th

Rushing: 73rd

Points For: 71st

Points Against: 21st

2011 Outcome: W 24-20

As Will Muschamp enters into his second year as head coach of the Gators, he will turn over the quarterback reins to Jacoby Briskett, after a struggling John Brantley closed out his collegiate career.  I really have no idea what to make of this Florida squad after losing Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.  

Of course they will bring in another solid class of 5- and 4-star recruits.

They lost offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to Kansas and now they are taking a look at Brent Pease to replace Weis.  

Your guess is as good as mine about the Gators.....

November 3rd: Ole Miss

2011 Record: 2-10 (2-6 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 107th

Rushing: 83rd

Points For: 116th

Points Against: 96th

2011 Outcome: W 27-13

This team absolutely quit on fired head coach Houston Nutt.  Enter Hugh Freeze.  Freeze led the Arkansas State Red Wolves to unprecedented heights, but this will take something a little more.  Ole Miss plays in the toughest division in college football and it just doesn't have the athletes to stack up.

This should be another rough season for the Rebels, but I like Freeze to transform this team into a worthy opponent.  I don't think they are capable of much more.

November 10th: @ Auburn

2011 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 106th

Rushing: 32nd

Points For: 70th

Points Against: 79th

2011 Outcome: W 45-7

Gene Chizik and the Auburn Tigers closed the regular season out in style against Virginia in the Chick-fil-a Bowl.  It was the swan song for offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn who is headed to take over Arkansas State after Hugh Freeze departed for Ole Miss.

Just this week star running back Michael Dyer was looking at options to transfer, and many people think he will end up with his former coordinator Malzahn at Arkansas State.

Again, this is a team with a lot going on...one that is very hard to put a finger on. 

November 17th: Georgia Southern

2011 Record: (11-3 (7-1 Southern - FCS)

2011 National Ranks FCS

Passing: 118th

Rushing: 2nd

Points For: 11th

Points Against: 39th

I think Bulldog fans are familiar with Paul Johnson and his triple-option scheme.  Well, welcome to the birthplace of his success.  The Eagles put up over 300 yards rushing against Alabama's starters and actually put up a good fight.

I think this game is a great stepping stone to the following week when Paul Johnson comes to Athens with a very similar system.  They can't be overlooked, but talent will prevail.

November 24th: Georgia Tech

2011 Record: 8-5 (5-3 SEC)

2011 National Ranks

Passing: 112th

Rushing: 2nd

Points For: 21st

Points Against: 60th

2011 Outcome: W 31-17

Mark RIcht's record against Georgia Tech is 9-1.  The only loss came in 2008, when the Bulldogs faced Paul Johnson's triple-option for the very first time.  A few adjustments and three losses later, the Yellow Jackets bring nothing new to the table.  

It isn't even worth going into.  I wouldn't be terribly shocked to see Georgia Southern put up better rushing numbers than the more talented Georgia Tech attack.  Paul Johnson has been figured out.  

Isn't it time we make the ACC a non-AQ?