2011 Georgia Bulldogs Regular Season: Game-By-Game Predictions
Oh if only the regular season was only a week away instead of seven months. But alas, I can only patiently wait and make predictions.
Now I probably will be slightly biased being a Dawg fan, but I will try to keep it to a minimum. I am not one of those overly optimistic/predisposed fans who believes that the team will go undefeated and make the BCS National Championship game every year.
Well here I go delving into the world of predictions and the unknown.
At Boise State* (Atlanta)
1 of 12
This will be a good game. I know the last time these two teams met it was a blowout in favor of Georgia in Sanford Stadium.
However, I believe the Broncos will be better this year than they were in 2005, and Georgia is not as strong or confident. On the other hand Georgia just got a spectacular recruiting class, while Boise State's class was mediocre.
Georgia's defense will be improved and Aaron Murray will be more experienced. The same could be said about Boise State's defense and quarterback, but the question still remains about how they will perform in a tough environment against an SEC team.
We will find out in September, and I believe they will come just short against a desperate team. UGA will win this game in the fourth quarter when the Broncos become tired against a more athletic and skilled SEC team.
Prediction: UGA: 31, Boise State: 24
South Carolina
2 of 12
Watch out for the Gamecocks in 2011. They will be on a mission to become the SEC champs.
I expect this to be a defensive struggle like it was last year in Columbia, but a little less one-sided. I do not feel confident Georgia can turn around from a big win and get an important victory from the defending SEC East winners.
South Carolina will have a senior quarterback in Stephen Garcia and an explosive running back. Their defense will once again be lethal with the addition of Jadeveon Clowney. Even though this will be a home game against a division rival that Georgia usually beats, I think SC will come away victorious.
Prediction: UGA 17, SC 20
Coastal Carolina
3 of 12
Nothing like a good old-fashioned beat down to put a loss behind you. Georgia gets a nice break against an awful team that finished with a 6-6 record last year in the Big South Conference.
Georgia will probably use this game as practice for their second-stringers, which I am quite alright with. Obviously the Bulldogs will still score a bunch, but I do not expect Mark Richt to purposely run up the score like an Urban Meyer or a Steve Spurrier.
Prediction: UGA 52, Coastal Carolina 7
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At Ole Miss
4 of 12
What a nice first true road game for the Bulldogs! They get to play a team that has now become the bottom feeders of the SEC West.
Ole Miss had an atrocious season last year with a 4-8 record and a 1-7 conference record. Unfortunately for them, they are not supposed to bounce back either this year.
They lost their 'star' quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, which means they will use a fresh QB with little experience. I expect their offense to make many mistakes against the Dawgs and get little help from their defense. Georgia fans will be comfortable the entire game and will not worry one bit.
Prediction: UGA 34, Ole Miss 14
Mississippi State
5 of 12
Back-to-back games against teams from Mississippi, and thankfully Georgia plays the hard team between the hedges instead of in Mississippi.
Mississippi will try to build off of last season's successes, but this will be a challenge for them this year. Their schedule is one of the toughest in the country, and it doesn't help that they have a four-week stretch in which they play Auburn, LSU and finally UGA.
I believe that Mississippi State will be slightly gassed out or discouraged due to those early games against tough teams. They will still play hard, but Georgia will be ready and not caught of guard.
Prediction: UGA 24, Miss. State 20
At Tennessee
6 of 12
This will be Georgia first real road game challenge. In past years, this series is back and forth, and this year will probably be more of the same.
Tennessee's quarterback Tyler Bray looks to be their future, and he has played pretty well in the games he started. He may not be flashy or as talented as Aaron Murray, but he is a decent quarterback who should do fine in Tennessee's offense.
This will be a trap game for the Bulldogs, and I don't think they will be ready. Look for Georgia's offense to sputter and make mistakes in the hostile environment that is known as Neyland Stadium.
Prediction: UGA 16, UT 27
At Vanderbilt
7 of 12
Almost an automatic win for UGA ever year, and it should be no different this season. Sure, Vanderbilt has a new enthusiastic head coach, but it is still Vandy.
In my opinion, they do not belong in the SEC, but while they are here, Georgia should take advantage. It doesn't matter if it is at home or not, the Bulldogs should beat them into the ground.
The game might start slowly, but the Dawgs will pick it up and go into the halftime with a large lead. They will keep it until the end and go home winners.
Prediction: UGA 38, Vandy 10
At Florida* (Jacksonville)
8 of 12
And here we are at the Florida game. I want to just skip it just to keep my hands clean because I am a Georgia fan, but I must elaborate on my thoughts about the game.
With it being Will Muschamp's first year as head coach of Florida, I expect there to be some problems in the transition. However, I still believe this game will be as important as ever.
Georgia will want to avenge last year's heartbreaking overtime loss, while Florida will want to prove that it still can beat its rivals even with Urban Meyer gone. The game will be intense and very close, like last year.
I believe though that Aaron Murray will not throw as many picks and the running game will not be as inconsistent. But Florida's offense will come out firing as well, and I believe the game will be decided by a late field goal. By Florida.
Prediction: UGA 28, UF 31
New Mexico State
9 of 12
Another automatic win! Georgia will be able to relax this week by trouncing this poor, poor opponent who has to travel across the country just to be destroyed. They were a miserable 2-10 last year in the WAC, and their only wins came against 1-11 New Mexico and 1-12 San Jose State.
I believe that even with Georgia's second-string players getting much playing time, the Aggies will allow over 60 points.
Prediction: UGA 62, New Mexico State 3
Auburn
10 of 12
Cam Newton and Nick (Un)Fairley are gone! Alleluia! But the Tigers did pull in a top five recruiting class, and they still have many good players. They will not vanish off the face of the earth.
Thankfully this game will be played at home instead of in what was one of the most tough places to play last year. But that doesn't mean the game won't be tough.
This will be a slugfest against two bitter rivals. What I mean by slugfest is not about points scored, but about many rough tackles and personal fouls.
I however do believe many points will be scored by both teams. Any offense under Gus Malzahn is going to put up points, and Georgia's offense is going to be solid this year.
Georgia should come out with a win, but a close one at that.
Prediction: UGA 38, AU 34
Kentucky
11 of 12
For the third straight home game, the Bulldogs get a mediocre SEC opponent in the form of the Kentucky Wildcats. They will not have Randall Cobb or Derrick Locke, their two best players.
Now this will not be a blowout, but Georgia will have a comfortable lead at the end. The Dawgs will use this momentum to go into their important rivalry game against Georgia Tech.
Prediction: UGA 28, UK 17
At Georgia Tech
12 of 12
The final regular season game for the Bulldogs is of course against their in-state rivals, the Yellow Jackets. They will hopefully have learned to defend the triple-option attack by then.
Ever since Paul Johnson has been head coach of Tech, Georgia has not defended well against his offense. Last year they could not stop the triple option and gave up way too many yards and points.
I believe though that Mark Richt and Todd Grantham will prepare better against Tech's offense this year, which will lead to a Georgia victory. UGA has won the game the last nine of 10 times, and I think that this winning trend will continue. Georgia will win convincingly this year and end the regular season with a four-game winning streak.
Will they make the SEC Championship? I will not make that prediction, but I do believe they will finish 9-3. I do not know if that will be enough to make it to Atlanta in December, but it is a possibility. And I hope that that possibility will become a reality.
Prediction: UGA 35, GT 17
Regular Season: 9-3
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