Georgia Bulldogs Football: Why the Bulldogs Won't Win It All Just Yet

Last year Georgia head football coach Mark Richt revived his stale Bulldogs program.

This year he plans to go to the next level.

Who should doubt him? The Bulldogs are a loaded gun—Aaron Murray is experienced as a third-year starting quarterback. His 35 passing touchdowns put him in elite status as a gun slinger; he's only going to get better with time. Isaiah Crowell is likely the next best running back in the SEC, putting a recovering Marcus Lattimore to the test to see who is the Beast of the SEC East.

Georgia's 10-game win streak has inspired confidence, but that doesn't mean one should ignore both of the team's two-game losing streaks. The Boise State and South Carolina losses are understandable, as each team finished in the Top 10 nationally.

Each had star players returning—Boise State had Kellen Moore and Doug Martin and were motivated to finally beat a successful SEC team. South Carolina had Steven Garcia at the QB position, but the real team leader was sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore, who scorched the Bulldogs defense for 176 yards on the ground.

LSU, of course, was dynamite almost all year long. And the Bulldogs contained the Bayou Bengals offense for a half. But the Michigan State loss was total nonsense. Georgia led the Spartans 16-0 at halftime in a game played in the Outback Bowl. In the south. Michigan State had also lost their past five bowl games, including one to the 2008 Georgia edition Matthew Stafford captained.

The loss to Sparty certainly keeps Bulldog nation wanting. Aaron Murray, once again the team's captain, struggled in his passing game. Even though the Bulldogs' schedule is easy yet again, Georgia is likely to struggle in the tough SEC games.

With four of their first five games at home, the Bulldogs will be a Top 10 team come the season's half-way mark. But they won't get revenge on South Carolina for last year's loss; namely because the Gamecocks have the home-field advantage and Jadevon Clowney to intercept a poorly thrown Murray pass. Since Georgia-South Carolina games are almost always decided by only one touchdown, expect Clowney to have the game of his life.

The Bulldogs will likely recover, as South Carolina has to play at LSU and Florida on back-to-back weeks. The Auburn Tigers will be a tough go, but can the Bulldogs dethrone LSU and the SEC West?

The answer is no. The Bayou Bengals will stifle Murray again, but the Bulldogs will make a BCS bowl.

Georgia will finish the season respectably and enter 2013 as a national title favorite. This year's team, like last year's FSU team, is a bit over-hyped.

Bulldog football will be back to 1980 soon, fans. Just not yet.