Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of the SEC, team by team, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, our 2021 Georgia preview!
2021 Georgia Preview
It’s weird – the 2020 Georgia Bulldogs finished the season 9-2, beating a solid Cincinnati Bearcats squad in the Peach Bowl. But, bad losses against Alabama and Florida put ’em out of contention pretty early on, and by the time the regular season ended, Georgia was basically an afterthought in the College Football Playoff conversation. But, there’s no Alabama on the schedule this season, and the SEC East looks wide open. Kirby Smart has built a perennial contender down in Athens, and 2021 will be no different. This team could be the one that gets Smart over the hump, and back into the College Football Playoff.
JT Daniels came in down the stretch in 2020, sparked the Bulldogs offense, and went 4-0 in the process. He has been named the unquestioned starter, so that solves a problem for Georgia that a lot of the other SEC teams still have. Daniels has the talent to become one of the premiere quarterbacks in the country, and is even showing up on some preseason Heisman odds lists. Outside of Daniels, the Bulldogs are experienced and stacked along the offensive line and in the backfield. The Bulldogs go a staggering four deep at running back with Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh, and Kendall Milton all posing a threat to defenses. Losing wide receiver George Pickens to a torn ACL hurts, but the dynamic Kearis Jackson and talented Jermaine Burton should hold down the fort, along with some other speedy and intriguing options in the receiving corps.
While the offense looks as loaded as it’s been in years, the defense does have a major question mark looming over it – who’s going to step up at cornerback? Georgia loses its top four corners from 2020. But, there’s an embarrassment of riches at the position, including two 2020 signees, Kelee Ringo (the top cornerback prospect in the 2020 class), and Jalen Kimber. While they may not have much experience, there’s just so much talent on this roster. These corners will undergo a trial by fire. The Bulldogs have a deep, talented, and fast front seven that should wreak havoc on anyone who dares oppose them. They should be dominant against the run, they should get after quarterbacks, and if they do, it’ll help ease the overhauled secondary into action without the immediate pressure to perform.
It’s a hell of a year for the Bulldogs to draw the Clemson Tigers in a monumental non-conference game. This year’s season opener could determine a playoff spot by season’s end. Otherwise, the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs should absolutely overwhelm every opponent on the schedule, and perhaps even be the favorites to win the SEC this season.
2021 Bulldogs Schedule
Saturday, 9/4: vs. Clemson (Charlotte, NC) – This is a massive game to open the season, and I’ll go ahead and say it, it looks like the only game standing in between Georgia and an undefeated season. The gap between this roster and the rest of the SEC East is enormous, and the Bulldogs avoid Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and LSU out of the SEC West. If they can pull this one off – and really, they probably should – fans in Athens could be in store for a special season.
Saturday, 9/11: vs. UAB – Go on and get that cupcake in – y’all deserve it after taking that season opener. Though I will say that UAB deserves some respect on its name for being the C-USA powerhouse that it is.
Saturday, 9/18: vs. South Carolina – Shane Beamer has a total rebuild ahead of him, and I don’t see him getting that squad ready for the Bulldogs by 9/18.
Saturday, 9/25: @ Vanderbilt – I’m actually high on the new Clark Lea regime in Nashville, but let’s not get carried away and think Vandy can hang with Georgia just yet.
Saturday, 10/2: vs. Arkansas – The Razorbacks should contend for a bowl game in 2021, as Sam Pittman has that program on the right track, but I just don’t think they’ll be able to score points against this Georgia defense.
Saturday, 10/9: @ Auburn – Yet another SEC program with a massive rebuild ahead of it. At least Auburn know who the quarterback is going to be (I think), but they’re a clear step below this Bulldogs roster.
Saturday, 10/16: vs. Kentucky – The Bulldogs begin a stretch of three games against the teams that I think will be vying for that #2 spot in the SEC East. Given the state of the division, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Wildcats claim that spot, but I don’t think any of ’em are beating Georgia.
Saturday, 10/23: BYE
Saturday, 10/30: vs. Florida – The Gators have an interesting dynamic that’ll change the offense a bit in quarterback Emory Jones. But, this is a game that Georgia can win with its front seven.
Saturday, 11/6: vs. Missouri – I think the Tigers could surprise some people this year, but I don’t see the balance on offense or the talent on defense to hang with Georgia just yet.
Saturday, 11/13: @ Tennessee – This is the fourth SEC team that Georgia will face that is in the early stages of a massive rebuild. Granted, the Vols should be a little more cohesive in November than those teams the Bulldogs face in September, but these two programs are still worlds apart. Also, does it feel weird for this game to happen in November? Feels like this one has become a staple of late September in recent years.
Saturday, 11/20: vs. Charleston Southern – That’s it – catch your breath…get ready for that *checks notes* “big rivalry game” against Georgia Tech.
Saturday, 11/27: @ Georgia Tech – Nah.
Prediction
Anything can happen on any given Saturday, obviously. But, expectations should absolutely be high in Athens this year given the way this schedule shakes down, the quarterback, and the loaded roster this team has. I look at this slate of games and think Clemson is the only thing standing between Georgia and an undefeated season. Winning the SEC could be a taller order, given they’d likely play one of those elite SEC West teams they avoid during the regular season. But, there’s no reason to NOT consider this team a National Championship contender. The official gun-to-my-head prediction for the season is 11-1. They’ll beat Clemson, but then drop one of those Kentucky, Florida, or Missouri games – wouldn’t that be the most Georgia thing ever?
OTHER SEC 2021 SEASON PREVIEWS
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Auburn Tigers
- Florida Gators
- Kentucky Wildcats
- LSU Tigers
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Missouri Tigers
- Ole Miss Rebels
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Vanderbilt Commodores
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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