Georgia Football: Are the Bulldogs a Favorite to Win the SEC in 2012?

It’s Auburn week for the Georgia Bulldogs and this game marks the most important one for the team that wears red and black this season.

Not because the Dawgs want to beat their oldest rival, it’s the fact that if the Bulldogs win on Saturday, they will come very close to clinching the SEC East.

Fans will be excited about Georgia returning to the conference title game for the first time in six years, but they also know whomever they face in the title game (most likely LSU), will give the Bulldogs a very hard time.

So if the Bulldogs do make it to the SEC Championship and lose, are they the type of team that can win it next year?

Mark Richt made a big deal about the dream team before the season began and the players from Georgia’s best recruiting class under Richt’s watch has lived up to expectations.

Players such as Isaiah Crowell, Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley have stepped up when their number is called and look to only get better. On defense, John Jenkins, Nick Marshall and Corey Moore have seen significant playing time and will benefit from it next year.

As good as the young players have looked, the veterans are the reason the Bulldogs are 7-2 and the players that are returning only look to get better next year.

Aaron Murray had its ups and downs this year, but he is a natural leader and wants to get better every time he steps on the field. Jarvis Jones is in his first year with the Bulldogs, but has played outstanding football.  Jones is as intimidating of a player as anybody will find on the college level.

With Murray and Jones slated to come back next year, the Bulldogs are in great shape to win the SEC East, regardless what happens this season.

But going back to the question about winning the SEC next year is a tough one to answer. Georgia will be a better team next year, but so will Alabama, LSU, South Carolina and Arkansas. One would have to think Florida will bounce back next season.

The one thing that has benefited the Bulldogs this season is they have played a schedule that was not very tough. When the Bulldogs take the field on Saturday against the Tigers, they will be going up against probably their toughest SEC opponent other than South Carolina.

With Missouri and Texas A&M entering the conference, there is no telling what the Bulldogs’ schedule will look like next year. They are scheduled to play at Alabama on Oct. 6 but that could change. If that game stays will next year’s Bulldogs have a shot to take down Nick Saban and company with the talent they have coming back?

What it comes downs to is this: The Bulldogs are better than what they were in 2009 and 2010, but can they get back to where they were in the early 2000s when they were competing for SEC titles on a regular basis? The 2012 season is crucial for Richt because the dream team will have one year under their belt, Murray will be a junior and the defense will have more experience with the 3-4.

Georgia may not win the SEC this year, but in order for the Bulldogs to be back where they were 10 years ago, they have to meet and exceed expectation in 2012.