Georgia Football: A Look at the Remaining Schedule Following Florida Win
Georgia took full control of the SEC East after beating Florida 24-17 in a neutral site showdown last Saturday. It was a statement win by the Dawgs who clearly grew tired of the narrative that UGA was performing below the standard and did not look like a championship team. The Classic City Canines have started the tough November slate off the way they needed too. A top 10 win over what is their biggest rival. Let's take a look at what's next for Georgia as they gear up to traverse a difficult last stretch en route to Atlanta.
It remains to be seen who from the West will be going to Atlanta but it stands to reason that the LSU/Bama match-up will serve as the de-facto SEC West championship game this weekend in Tuscaloosa. While UGA's offense still has some work to do, their defense is good enough to compete with both of these teams. But first, they must win at least 2 of the next 3 SEC games and must win out altogether to reach the CFP.
Mizzou comes to Athens November 9th:
The Missouri Tigers should not be overlooked despite some head-scratching results from some of their recent games. Even though they have a measly 1-7 record all-time against the Bulldogs, Mizzou has always been competitive. The average margin of victory for Georgia in the last 4 match-ups is just above 8 points. The Mizzou defense is stout, leading the league against the pass, and they have weapons on offense including former Clemson Quarterback Kelly Bryant. The Dawgs are favored by 17 here but this is the definition of a trap game. ESPN FPI gives UGA an 87.1% chance to win this game. The Dawgs should win handily and showcase some of that new offensive prowess.
DT, Derrick Brown
Dawgs head to Jordan-Hare November 16th:
Last time Georgia played at Jordan-Hare things didn't go so well. They ended that day with a (40-17) drubbing only to rebound, run the table, and defeat Auburn in a rematch in the SEC Championship game (28-7). Admittedly I didn't start the season overly confident about this game for the simple reason that it's at Auburn. At this point in the season, however, my confidence has grown. ESPN FPI has given UGA a 45.3% chance to win. Now, this is easily the toughest game left for Georgia and that is largely in part due to the Tigers defense led by the fantastic Derrick Brown. UGA comes in battle-tested however and with all of its goals still intact. It's a must-win game for UGA's playoff aspirations as this will likely be another top-10 match-up.
Texas A&M visits the Classic City November 23rd:
ESPN FPI gives the Dawgs a 82.5% chance to win here. The Aggies bring a close to a brutal November. It could be a must-win for the East if UGA somehow drops the Auburn game but it will have playoff implications even with a Georgia victory on the plains. A&M should enter this game outside the top 25 but it will still be a tough, physical game for the Dawgs between the hedges. Georgia will have to have laser focus against an Aggies team looking to wreck someone's season.
HC, Geoff Collins
Dawgs invade Bobby Dodd on November 30th:
In what has been a complete offseason offensive overhaul, Geoff Collin's first year as the head coach for Georgia Tech has been less than stellar. Expect this game to be very lopsided with Georgia really stretching its legs and working out any kinks prior to the post-season. We will have a clear picture of where Georgia stands in the playoff picture by this point so this will be a nice way to the end the season with little chance to drop this game. ESPN FPI gives UGA a 97.2% chance to win and that may actually be low.
Georgia is in the driver's seat in the East and more importantly, it controls its own playoff destiny. The concept is simple, win out and you're in. The application, however, is difficult. Can the Dawgs pull it off? Absolutely. And it is this writer's belief that they will.
