We are 12 days away from the start of Georgia football, and Kirby is all set to address the Athens Touchdown Club later this evening. Additionally, there was a very slight and subtle coolness in the air this morning. Needless to say, it feels like an appropriate time to gaze in to the proverbial “crystal ball” and make some predictions about Georgia Football. I did the same thing last year about this time, and I was fairly optimistic when I predicted UGA would go 10 and 2 losing to Tennessee and Auburn. Obviously, I was wrong, but that’s no reason to stop predicting. Even so, this year may prove to be the most difficult season to prognosticate in a long time. Think about it, what do we really know about this team? What do we really know about the coaches? Who is going to play Quarterback? Basically, we don’t much of anything at this point. Regardless, I am going to ignore that reality, and convince you that I am a modern day soothsayer and quite possibly the next Nostradamus. So allow me to gaze into the crystal ball, peruse the tea leaves, and examine the tarot cards. Warning!! Spoilers are ahead.
UGA vs North Carolina Sept 3rd– The big question here will be who plays QB. I feel pretty sure that Greyson Lambert will be taking the first snaps in the Dome, and I do think Eason will play as well. But the story here will be the return of Nick Chubb. I think he runs for 150 + yards and 2 scores leading Georgia to a win. Still a close game I think. North Carolina is well coached, and played some good defense last year. Maybe I am blinded by my love for Georgia, but I just have a hard time envisioning a North Carolina win. On another note, how many times during the game do you think a Tarheel fan will say, “well actually, North Carolina was the first state chartered school to begin classes not Georgia”? My guess is somewhere in the thousands. (1-0)
UGA vs Nicholls Sept 10th– Not really going out on a limb here to say that Georgia will win. It will be the first home game in the “Smart Era”, and I am so excited I just about can’t stand it. I am hoping for good weather, and a temperature below 90 which is asking a lot. Ideally, Georgia will feel good about the quarterback position by the end of this game, but that could be asking a lot as well. (2-0)
UGA vs Missouri Sept 17th– The first SEC game is always a big one. It feels a little weird for it not to be against South Carolina, and going on the road is always risky. Missouri has some talent, but they have lost a great coach in Gary Pinkel. Nevertheless, Pinkel was replaced by someone on the staff so it could be business as usual for Mizz. They will be improved from 2015, but not enough to win this game. Georgia actually scores a few touchdowns this year, and wins by a couple scores. (3-0)
UGA vs Ole Miss Sept 24th– It appears that Ole Miss is living proof that sometimes cheating does pay off. I know, I know Ole Miss is still supposedly innocent until proven guilty, but come on do you really believe they haven’t broken the rules? Regardless of how they got the talent, they now have a good bit of it, and one of the best Quarterbacks in the conference coming back. Granted, they lost some good players last year, but I just think this one may be a tall order for the Dawgs. I hate to say it, but Georgia loses this one. (3-1)
UGA vs Tennessee Oct 1st– Tennessee seems to be the popular pick to win the SEC East. The only problem is that the media has historically been wrong almost every year when picking the East division. I don’t think this year is going to be any different, but I do think Tennessee will win this game. It will be a close one, and maybe a real heart breaker. The end of this game will be the low point of season for Georgia. (3-2)
UGA vs South Carolina Oct 8th– This game will be just what the doctor ordered for the Georgia. Kirby vs Muschamp round one and this round will go to Kirby. Will Muschamp is a good coach, but right now he just doesn’t have enough talent over in Columbia. Dawgs win this one big, and it marks the turnaround of the season. (4-2)
UGA vs Vanderbilt Oct 15th– Vandy always plays hard against the Dawgs, and this year will be no different. However, they won’t win this one. Georgia will be hitting their stride about this point and it won’t even be close. (5-2)
GEORGIA vs FLORIDA Oct 29th– This game almost ALWAYS decides the SEC East, and that could be the case this year. Something really needs to change for Georgia in this rivalry, and it needs to change soon. Richt was never able to win consistently in Jacksonville, but Kirby will get it done. And I think he starts in year one. Georgia wins, and Dawg fans will start to get excited at this point because UGA, Tenn, and Florida will all have 2 SEC losses. (6-2)
UGA vs Kentucky Nov 5th– This thing is getting long winded so let’s just say Georgia wins, but it’s close. There will be a little bit of a letdown after the big win in Jax., but they pull out the win. (7-2)
UGA vs Auburn Nov 12th– Georgia doesn’t beat Florida and Auburn in the same year very often. But times they are a changing, and Georgia wins this one placing Gus Malzahn on the chopping block. I wonder who Auburn will hire after they fire Malzahn? There is no telling, but it will be interesting to watch. (8-2)
UGA vs Lousiana-LaFayette Nov 19th– Not much to say about this game. It should be another Georgia win, and hopefully an ideal afternoon on campus. (9-2)
UGA vs TECHIES Nov 26th– Man do I hate Georgia Tech. Not as much as the Gators, but it’s pretty close. One thing Mark Richt did well was beat Tech. In fact, coaches that don’t beat Tech typically don’t hang around too long at UGA. Jim Donnan was a good coach, but he just lost to Tech too many times. Under Paul Johnson, Tech’s offense has always been a little scary. Especially, if you let them hang around and keep the score close. The best way to beat Tech is to score. Once they get behind, they have to pass the ball, and they don’t do that so well. Georgia wins this game and finishes off the year with only 2 losses surprising a lot of people. (10-2)
Just like last year, I have predicted Georgia to finish 10 and 2. Granted, I was wrong, but I was damn close. Even though we know so little about the team and the new staff, I still think good things will happen this year. For example, last year Georgia suffered a devastating knee injury to their best player along with mediocre QB play, but they still managed 9 wins. Many of you will read this blog and laugh at a 10 and 2 prediction from an unapologetic “homer” like myself. In all likelihood, most educated fans probably project Georgia to an 8 and 4 or 9 and 3 record. Hell, I even had one person tell me they would go 7 and 5 to which I replied “you’re an idiot”. Let’s just hope I was right about his idiocy. On the other hand, I understand that it might seem unlikely for a first year coach to do so well without a definitive starting quarterback. But when you sit down, and look at UGA’s schedule you will see they could feasibly win them all thanks to the weakness of the SEC East. So bring on the criticism, and call me the idiot. And maybe you’re right, but maybe you’re wrong. Go Dawgs! 12 Days !