Georgia Bulldogs: Three bold predictions for 2016
New coach Kirby Smart looks to take the Georgia Bulldogs to new heights and win a championship in his first season between the hedges
Fans of the Georgia Bulldogs know the football season is around 100 days away and Kirby Smart looks to use all the players at his disposal to bring the Georgia Bulldogs a championship.
There are many questions that surround the program. Some of which were answered during the spring game, but some will linger into the season and not become resolved until certain points throughout the season. There are key players coming back from injury and a quarterback competition that might not be answered until the third game of the season. Let’s take a look at three bold predictions for the upcoming season.
The Georgia Bulldogs will win the SEC Championship game
Kirby Smart is changing the culture for the Georgia Bulldogs and he is recruiting at a very high level. He is getting the talent from inside of the state that in years past has left and gone to other schools and he is also getting elite out of state talent that will make an impact this year. The schedule for the Georgia Bulldogs this year is favorable as they do not draw games against Alabama or LSU from the SEC West.
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This is also contingent on if Nick Chubb can come back healthy and produce like he did last year before he got hurt. This will also depend on if the defense can continue to improve and provide takeaways and give the offense a short field. If Chubb can return to his 2015 form and the Georgia Bulldogs are able to find a quarterback who can distribute the ball to playmakers on the outside then UGA will have a great chance to win its first SEC championship since 2005.
Malkom Parrish will lead the SEC in interceptions
Last year, Dominick Sanders was tied for the league lead in interceptions. I think that Parrish will give the Georgia Bulldogs back-to-back years with the league leader in interceptions. Parrish has improved each of his first two years on campus and he has been able to have an impact at corner at 5’10 in the SEC.
In 2015, Parrish totaled 36 tackles and 2 interceptions. I believe that he will at least get 7 interceptions this year. Parrish is primed to take a leap in his junior season. He will be defending more opposing teams best receiver and he will get thrown to more and that’s where the interceptions will come from. The Brooks County product will help the defense create takeaways and if he can do that, it will take the pressure off of the offense and whoever the quarterback is.
Jacob Eason will throw for 5,000 yards and 15 touchdowns
Eason, Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey are in a quarterback competition that will continue into the season. I believe after the third week, Eason will become the starter and begin to show why he was the number one pocket passer coming out of high school last year. The early enrollee from Washington, had a great spring game and showed the ability to stand tall in the pocket and take the check-down pass instead of forcing the ball into a tight window.
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I believe Eason is Georgia’s best quarterback and it is not even close. Smart will see that Eason is the quarterback that gives the Georgia Bulldogs the best opportunity to win. Eason has plenty of weapons on the outside in Terry Godwin, Michael Chigbu and Jayson Stanley, who I think will each have great seasons. These receivers in addition to Issac Nauta, gives Eason targets to get not only down the field, but in the end zone.