Predicting How Georgia Will Fair Through 2024 Schedule
Georgia football has peaked under Kirby Smart since his takeover of the program. Hitting multiple historic marks such as back-to-back national championships, numerous bowl victories, and multiple first-round NFL Draft selections, it seems things couldn't be better for the Dawgs. However, change has hit the entire college football landscape, starting with the SEC.
Two new teams have been introduced to the conference, which shook up Georgia's 2023 schedule, eliminating their game with Oklahoma. A tough road is ahead of the Bulldogs in their 2024 schedule, so how will Georgia fair in one of college football's toughest schedules?
The first game of their season begins at a neutral site at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta when they take on the Clemson Tigers. The Tigers opened up their season against Georgia not too long ago; in fact, it was in 2021 when Georgia began their national championship run. The Tigers have some key pieces returning to their roster in 2024, but so does Georgia. It should be another tight game between the two powerhouses, but it should see Georgia come out on top, moving to 1-0 at the start of a new era in college football.
Their next game will be back Between the Hedges when they host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles out of the Ohio Valley Conference. Under a new head coach, Tennessee Tech is looking to turn around the recent losing ways that have overshadowed the premiere players of this program, such as Nate Hodnett, a Georgia native. But Georgia is no tough match, and the Bulldogs will likely move to a 2-0 record.
Georgia will have their first road action in Lexington, KY, at Kroger Filed when they head to take the Kentucky Wildcats and their two new players, Brock Vandgriff and Jamon Dumas-Johnson. As was expected this past season, this may be a true test of what the Bulldogs will look like in 2024, but it may not be as tough as some believe. In Kroger Field, the Dawgs will march out with another victory over Mark Stoops and his Wildcats, now sitting at a 3-0 mark.
The new landscape of incoming college football and a 12-team playoff also introduces something new: two bye weeks within the regular season. Georgia's first BYE comes at the right time, between a trip to Lexington and Tuscaloosa. Kalen DeBoer's most daunting task as the head coach at Alabama comes in the form of Georgia, who will once again seek revenge against the Crimson Tide. It will be an exciting matchup to see how the two rivals fare against each other, with Kirby Smart's roots extending to Nick Saban, who is now enjoying retirement. What should be another classic between the two teams will likely see Georgia squeak out a victory, narrowly keeping their perfect record alive.
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart celebrates with his players and fans after their victory over Florida. The annual Georgia vs Florida football rivalry was held at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL Saturday, October 29, 2022. The Bulldogs went in at halftime with a 28 to 3 lead over the Gators and won with a final score of 42 to 20. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK).
Georgia will face the second of their neighboring rivals to the west the following week when Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers come to town. Last season, it was Brock Bowers fourth quarter heroics that put the Tigers down and allowed Georgia to remain the No. 1 team in the country. This season, it will have to be a different person, and Auburn will have to come to Athens and leave their "voodoo" stadium of Jordan-Hare. With one of the top recruiting classes but turmoil in Freeze's defensive room, Smart pulls out another victory, and the Dawgs are 5-0.
Georgia will get to welcome a second new head coach to the SEC when Mississippi State comes to town. Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby will bring his Bulldogs to Athens in a matchup of the English Bulldogs. He will have a difficult job ahead of him rebuilding a program that was taken over by the late Air Raid legend Mike Leach. Lebby was a good OC for the Sooners, but facing the defensive minds of Glenn Chumann, Kirby Smart, Travaris Robinson, and Donte Williams, don't expect much from Miss. State's offense, especially without Will Rogers. The dawgs are 6-0 heading into what is lining up to be their hardest game of 2024.
The game will have almost the entire college football world circled on Oct. 19th when Georgia heads down to Austin, TX, for a matchup with the Longhorns. The last time Georgia and Texas faced off was in the Sugar Bowl in 2019, which the Longhorns won, 28-21. This is the dawn of a new era for both football programs; Steve Sarkisian and Smart have ties with Nick Saban that landed them their head coaching gigs. Both have taken down their former boss; both have a fight ahead of them. Sarkisian took down Saban and Alabama last year, but this year, it will be the Dawgs chomping on some steak on their way back to Georgia.
The second bye week hits Georgia as they get to prepare for their road trip to Jacksonville at The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The Florida Gators had a rough season last year but are bringing in two of 2024's best prospects, DJ Lagway and LJ McCray. Though these two players won't bring an immediate winning factor, it is a step in the right direction. But Trevor Etienne has a chance to strap up his pads against his former team and make them hurt. Georgia walks away with yet another victory, moving themselves to 8-0.
Georgia will continue their rough road to the playoffs with a trip to Oxford, MS, to take on one of the more dominant teams sharking the transfer portal. Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels have done an excellent job getting the guys to fit their system and make an immediate impact for their team, as they were ever so close to an SEC Championship berth last season. Their worst game of the 2023 season came against Georgia, but Kiffin won't allow that to happen again. This game, Texas and Alabama, is the three games fans need to be worried about. You should survive your trip to Oxford and move to 9-0, but there is a real possibility you will lose this game or against Texas.
When Georgia plays host to Tennessee, it is scary for some who remember Josh Dobbs' heroics. With no more Joe Milton, Tennessee has turned to Nico Iamaleava as their starting quarterback. The Volunteers are bringing in the threats that Josh Heupel needed in his receiving core to have the offensive juggernaut they had just two seasons ago. Georgia hasn't lost a game to Tennessee since the Hail Mary from Dobbs, and don't expect it to happen this year. If the predictions hold true to this point, you are now sitting at a perfect 10-0 record moving into your final two games of the year.
Your next opponent is more of a "cupcake" game for Georgia against the UMass Minutemen. This game should be like the one earlier in your season against Tennessee Tech. This should be a good game filled with plenty of reps for members up and down the Bulldogs' roster as Georgia will continue their winning ways, moving to 11-0.
Georgia Tech is not the same program it has been for many years, but things look bright for the Yellow Jackets. This past season, they had one of the best offenses in the ACC and are looking to continue building on their success from the 2023 season. They kept up with Georgia at the end of last season, all be it a banged-up Georgia squad, but you could see drastic improvements. The Yellow Jackets are on the hunt to "Run This State," but they are not the top dogs just yet. Georgia will prevail and finish with a perfect regular season record for the third straight season.
The setting would then be set for the SEC championship, a divisionless conference now. Many teams like Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Tennessee could enter the title game. If these predictions are accurate, Georgia should be in the SEC Championship and into the 12-team playoff picture.
Other Georgia News:
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- Georgia Bulldogs Could Surpass 2023 Totals in This Year's NFL Draft
- BREAKING: OL Tate Ratledge Returning to Georgia For 2024 Season
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