Bulldogs Ranked #5 in Both Preseason Polls

Aug 1, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt shown during practice at the University of Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

To the shock of virtually no one, the Georgia Bulldogs are ranked very highly to start the 2013 college football season. However, it may be a bit of a surprise to see just how highly the Bulldogs are thought of as the season approaches.

The Associated Press preseason top 25 was unveiled over the weekend, joining the already-revealed coaches’ poll, and Georgia is ranked #5 in each poll. The two polls actually mirror each other perfectly for the first five rankings, as Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, and Stanford represent the four teams placed ahead of Georgia.

To be frank, I put almost no stock in this type of preseason polling, but it does present an indication of just how talented this team is. With Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley as “darkhorse” Heisman candidates in the preseason (maybe not even so much a darkhorse case for Murray) and the repeated pedigree of top-10 performance, it is easy to see why the Bulldogs are getting so much love.

There is one very interesting note in the midst of this, and that is that UGA actually received a 1st-place vote in the AP Poll. At first blush, that isn’t terribly impressive, but when you realize that Alabama secured 58 of the possible 60 1st-place votes, it is a bit more of a nod toward UGA to garner one.

Georgia has an extremely tough early-season slate, and we will know right away whether the preseason hype is justified. In the first two weeks of the season, the Dawgs will take on #8 Clemson on the road (Aug. 31, 8:00 PM ET), and #6 (or #7, depending on the poll) South Carolina between the hedges (Sept. 7, 4:30 PM ET). That is an unmatched gauntlet throughout the country, and if they can navigate it with two wins, I would expect to see Georgia shooting up to the #2 or #3 position behind only Alabama and possibly Ohio State.

Stay tuned for more information as the season draws closer, but for now, tell us what you think of Georgia’s lofty preseason ranking.