Georgia Bulldogs: Pre-Season SEC East Power Rankings

By John Buhler | Jul 27, 2015

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Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past Auburn Tigers defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Though the Georgia Bulldogs have the toughest schedule of any team in the SEC East this year, I think that the SEC Media voters did get it right by naming the Dawgs the pre-season favorites to come out of the East in 2015. Georgia will have to go no worse that 6-2 in Conference Play to get to Atlanta this season.

I see their matchup with the Missouri Tigers as a must-win game for the Dawgs this season probably more than any game on their schedule. While I hope that Mark Richt can beat both Alabama and Auburn out of the West this regular season, I have to prepare myself mentally for one loss between the pair at least. Then the Georgia Tech meeting in the non-conference looks like it will bolster the victor’s playoff resumes entering the Conference Championships.

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Georgia may not have a favorable schedule entering 2015 or certainty coming from the quarterback position, but I do know two things the Georgia Bulldogs will do extremely well this fall: run the football and sack the opposing quarterback. Nick Chubb will lead the way for a very deep RB group and Leonard Floyd anchors a very strong LB corps this fall. Should the Dawgs win the turnover battle all year long, I see the Dawgs as a potential Playoff contender out of the SEC.

But on the other side of things, Georgia has to overcome is reputation as losing very costly games during the regular season to stand as a title contender. The first step to the ultimate prize is to win the SEC East. I like Georgia to accomplish that this fall as I don’t see either Missouri or Tennessee as 7-1 teams in conference play. Could the Dawgs knock off a Western foe in Atlanta? I think so, they were five yards shy of it against Alabama in 2012.

Winning it all this year seems a little daunting at the moment given how strong some other Power 5 schools look entering the season: Ohio State, TCU, USC, Clemson, Oklahoma, etc. But winning the SEC East is attainable for Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs this fall. Let’s hope that the culture change in Athens under DC Jeremy Pruitt allows the Dawgs to escape the annual letdown game in 2015. Please let it be September 5th already. I need my college football fix. Go Dawgs!

Next: Greyson Lambert: Can He Win UGA QB Job?

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