The Bulldogs are most people's preseason pick to win it all this year. But in order to accomplish that feat, UGA will need to get through a schedule that's as tough as they come.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Good News: If defense and a strong running game still wins championships, the Dawgs are in great shape. Everyone knows the rock star, super soph Knowshon Moreno. Moreno burst on the scene last season to rush for 1,334 yards and he should improve on that total in 2008. Word this spring was Moreno showed up to practice bigger and faster than last season, a scary thought for SEC defenses. Speaking of defenses, Georgia has arguably the deepest, most talented unit in the country. It all starts up front with a defensive line that could be the best in the nation. Tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins are both big-time NFL prospects. They join pass rushing ends Roderick Battle and Jeremy Lomax to make up a formidable group. The Dawgs defensive line is very deep as well, rotating seven quality players to keep everyone fresh. The secondary is also loaded with Asher Allen and Prince Miller forming one of the best corner tandems in CFB. Quarterback Matthew Stafford needs to cut down on his interceptions but he should become one of the nation's elite signal callers this season. With Stafford continuing to improve, look for a breakout season from WR Mohamed Massaquoi.
The Bad News: The Dawgs have two concerns heading into the season: the offensive line and kicker. The first one doesn't appear to be a big deal, the second one is. Georgia returns three linemen with starting experience but Mark Richt is moving guys around to get the best players on the field, so stability early in the year is a concern. I'm big on betting against teams early with question marks on the line but I don't think it's going to be a big deal with the Bulldogs. The players have experience, some just need to get used to playing a different position. Luckily, Georgia has two winnable games early on to get the line in sync. The main problem for UGA is at kicker, where they lost the reliable Brandon Coutu. True freshman Blair Walsh is the likely replacement but with the Dawgs schedule, you can bet they'll be in a few tight games. An untested, freshman kicker could be the difference between playing for a National Title and a disappointing season. Finally, the Dawgs are everyone's preseason darlings. Most publications picked them to win it all and with that comes pressure. Richt's teams have been criticized in the past for being mentally weak under pressure. It will be interesting to see how they handle being the favorites to win it all this season.
Schedule: Brutal. If Georgia wins the National Title, no one will be able to say they didn't earn it. Richt's teams have been phenomenal on the road during his tenure and that will need to continue this year. Take a look at this road slate: South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Kentucky and Auburn. It doesn't get much easier between the hedges as the Bulldogs host the likes of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Tech. That schedule alone is daunting but when you throw in a neutral battle against loaded Florida on Nov.1, it gets downright ridiculous. There should be a lot on the line when the Dawgs and Gators tussle in Jacksonville. If you can't get excited about watching that game, find another sport to follow because that's as big as it gets. Overall, this is as tough a schedule a title contender has had to deal with in quite some time.
Gambling Angle: While Moreno, Stafford and the offense get all the headlines, it's the Dawgs' defense that will lead the way. Expect to see a lot of unders in games that feature the Bulldogs. UGA and South Carolina are famous for their low scoring affairs and Arizona State's offensive line is going to have a hard time blocking the Dawgs' defensive front. Because Georgia will likely top 50 points in its first two games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan, we should get some nice elevated totals to take advantage of in the next three games versus South Carolina, Arizona State and Alabama. Also, the Dawgs travel to Auburn late in the season to take on the Tigers in a series that's been dominated by the road team over the last 15 years.
Outlook: This is the most talented team Richt has had at Georgia but they are far from a lock to reach the Orange Bowl. A brutal schedule and question marks surrounding the offensive line and kicker need to be ironed out first. It's hard to imagine the Dawgs going undefeated with that schedule but their defense is good enough to keep them in every game. I expect Stafford to become of the best quarterback's in CFB, while Moreno could be taking home the Heisman hardware at season's end. If the Dawgs can handle the pressure of being the team to beat and outlast the Gators on Nov. 1, there's no reason they shouldn't be playing for the National Title, even with one loss on their resume.
Projected Record: 12-1
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