Georgia Football: 3 Key Reasons Why Dawgs Should Be the Favorites to Win the SEC

Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama and Auburn have garnered the majority of the national headlines, but it is the Georgia Bulldogs who find themselves in the most favorable scenario to reach the College Football Playoff. 

At 6-1 (4-1), the Dawgs stand as heavy favorites to win the SEC East and play in the SEC Championship Game.

Despite an early-season loss to South Carolina, UGA has won four straight conference games to catapult itself back into the Top 10 of the AP poll. The Bulldogs are averaging over 43 points a game, while Jeremy Pruitt's revamped defense ranks in the top 20 in scoring defense. 

Aside from these eye-opening statistics, Georgia fans should remain optimistic of an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the three key reasons that follow. 

A defense that is finally up to par with its offense

Georgia fans have become accustomed to high-octane, explosive offenses under head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. 

Since his promotion to offensive coordinator in 2007, Bobo's offense has not averaged less than 30 points a game. That includes an SEC-leading 43.4 points thus far in 2014. 

The same cannot be said for past UGA defenses. 

Much-maligned former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham bolted for Louisville before the season, leaving behind a defense ranked 101st in turnover margin and allowing opponents almost 30 points a game. 

After helping Florida State to a National Championship as defensive coordinator in 2013, Jeremy Pruitt was lured away from Tallahassee to replace Grantham and reconstruct the Bulldogs defense. 

He has not disappointed. 

With nine turnovers in its last two games, Georgia now ranks first in turnover margin in all of college football. The defense has already produced two more takeaways than in all of 2013. 

UGA has also accounted for three defensive touchdowns (including Dominick Sanders 54-yard fumble return, seen below).

Georgia ranks 20th in scoring defense (20 points per game) and 16th in yards allowed (320.6 yards per game), which are immense upgrades from the 29 points per game and 375.5 yards per game allowed a season ago. 

Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd, Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera have been dynamite for the Dawgs, but Damian Swann has been the MVP of the much-improved D. 

Radi Nablusi of UGASports.com mentions Swann's turnaround after a difficult 2013:

The senior cornerback has led by example for a young secondary needing to replace the departed Josh Harvey-Clemons, Tray Matthews, Sheldon Dawson and Shaq Wiggins. 

The (potential) return of Todd Gurley and the emergence of Nick Chubb

UGA announced (h/t Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com) that it applied for the reinstatement of the suspended Todd Gurley on Wednesday, .

The NCAA must still rule in Gurley's favor, but UGA's move for reinstatement indicates that they are confident that their Heisman hopeful will be back in action against Florida on November 1. 

When the news of Gurley's suspension broke on October 9, many pundits believed Georgia's season to be in great peril.

And who could blame them? After all, just look at some of his jaw-dropping stats, via ESPN Stats and Info: 

• Despite missing two games, Gurley remains the SEC's leading rusher with 773 yards.
• He has posted an incredible 27 rushes of 10 yards or more.
• He is averaging over eight yards a carry and almost four yards after contact. 
• Among the all-time SEC running backs with at least 400 carries; only Bo Jackson has averaged more yards per carry than Gurley.

Although the junior running back seemed irreplaceable at the time of his suspension, the UGA running game has shown its depth in the form of freshman Nick Chubb. 

Behind a veteran offensive line, Chubb has produced two standout performances in road wins over Missouri and Arkansas.

At Missouri, Chubb carried the ball a whopping 38 times for 143 yards and a touchdown. Not done yet, the freshman rushed 30 more times for 202 yards and two touchdowns against the Razorbacks (as seen in the highlights below).

Chubb's valuable experience gained in Gurley's absence presents upcoming opponents with two backs that are capable of shouldering the rushing load.

ESPN's College GameDay provided an extended look at Georgia's potential "two-headed monster" in the backfield:

The injured Keith Marshall and Sony Michel will eventually re-enter the fold, but with Gurley and Chubb toting the rock, the offense looks to be one of the best in college football. 

A very manageable schedule down the stretch

Georgia's biggest advantage against the other SEC hopefuls is its remaining schedule. 

The Dawgs will play only one ranked team the rest of the season (Auburn) until a potential SEC Championship Game appearance.

Trent Smallwood of UGASports.com compares that number to other teams in the Top 10:

Five teams ahead of UGA in the AP Poll will face more ranked opponents in the season's final weeks, including all four SEC teams in the Top Five. 

According to ESPN's Football Power Index—an indicator of a team's potential performance going forward—Georgia is actually predicted to have the best chance to win the SEC. College GameDay's following tweet shows that the Dawgs are actually a prohibitive favorite:

The Bulldogs will travel to Jacksonville to take on Florida in their annual neutral-site matchup before a trip to Kentucky against the improved Wildcats. They will then close the season with games against Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech.

However, sandwiched in between on November 15 will be a massive showdown with Auburn.

There is no doubt that the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" will prove to be UGA's most difficult hurdle in its quest to reach the playoff.

Yet a win against an Auburn team that will likely reside in the Top 10 should boost Georgia's chances of jumping into the playoff conversation.

Florida and Georgia always seem to play close games in their intense rivalry. Even with Florida's offensive issues, the Bulldogs must anticipate the Gators' best punch.

Yet Florida's struggles mixed with the Auburn game being played at Sanford Stadium provides the perfect recipe for UGA to run the table.

The Dawgs' recent play should be reason enough for their fans to be excited, but a reasonable schedule in the last month of the season should only bolster that confidence.

Pundits around the nation, such as ESPN's Danny Kanell, have begun to notice UGA's momentum:

With plenty of football still to be played in November, more twists and turns will undoubtedly alter the landscape of the first-ever College Football Playoff.

But entering the home stretch of 2014, UGA has positioned itself nicely for the games ahead.

Georgia's defense is creating turnovers, while its offense is likely to reap the benefits of a rested Gurley and a confident Chubb. 

Combining these factors with a favorable November schedule should swing the SEC pendulum of momentum in the Dawgs' favor, making them the favorite to win the conference.