No Rest Early For the Georgia Bulldog Football Team in 2009

I have watched Alabama Crimson Tide football for most of my life.  You couldn't help notice from talking to Nick Saban, that he wanted to change a few things.  One thing for them was to quit the early, cream-puff schedule and make spring mean more, by preparing for a tough season opener.

Mark Richt must have had this in mind because his opening schedule has no rest for the weary, and UGA's tongue may be dragging before they get to the Tennessee Golden Eagles in the ninth game of the season.  The first eight opponents all realistically have a shot at them.

First Game, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has a high powered offense that will test exactly how good and how fast your defense is.  This is a team that can, and will, light up the scoreboard.  They were a bowl team last year and a very good, solid team.

Second Game, South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina is another bowl team that played solid defense for most of last year.  Spurrier thinks he may have a QB this year to help take the load off that defense.  It's an early division game with late-season ramifications.

Third Game, Arkansas

Bobby Petrino had the Razorbacks beginning to click by the season's end and many think this is a bowl team in 2009.  This will give Georgia a chance to compare itself to another rebuilding SEC team.

Fourth Game - Arizona State

Arizona State is one of those teams you had better not overlook. Yes they had a bad year by their standards last year, but the year before saw a 10-win season.  They lost a few games last year with a bad bounce or two.

Fifth Game, LSU

LSU will be playing like a wounded Tiger, aiming to get some respect it felt it lost last year.

Sixth Game, Tennessee

This is a bitter conference and division game where, like LSU, the Vols will try and prove that they can stand up with the big boys again.

Seventh Game, Vanderbilt

Last year's bowl Cinderella won't sneak up on teams this year.  But then, neither will they back away without a fight.  This could actually be a tough game for the Dogs.

Eighth Game, Florida

Need I say more than defending National Champions?

Georgia will have little opportunity for rest this season.  How they hold up under these first eight games will tell much about them. 

Though Mark Richt won't settle for anything less than hoping for perfection, if the Dogs finish the first eight games with only a loss or two, they should be proud, very proud indeed.