Schedule Breakdown Part 2

If you haven’t checked out Part 1 of the schedule breakdown, check it out first.

October 29: v. Florida (Jacksonville)

Both Jim Donnan and Mark Richt lost their first meetings to the Gators in Jacksonville. In fact, between the two coaches, Georgia only won 6 games against the Gators. The last two years have been utter embarrassments for Georgia. One of the biggest things about Kirby Smart coming back to Georgia to be the head coach is the understanding that he brings about the school, the team, and the rivalries that matter the most to fans. I think Florida is very overrated this season, and Kirby will have this date circled on his calendar. If Georgia wins, Kirby will be one of only two living Georgia coaches to have a winning record against the Gators. Jacksonville has been a house of horrors for Georgia, but I think Kirby will start to turn it back into a house of joy for Georgia fans.

Georgia 42   Florida 28

November 5: @ Kentucky

Kentucky will host Georgia between road games at Missouri and at Tennessee. Mark Stoops could be on the hot seat by the time this game rolls around. Kentucky needs to break through a beat one of the three traditional powers in the East. If Georgia is victorious in Jacksonville, like I think they will be, this could be a classic trap game for the Dawgs. A road trip to Lexington isn’t typically scary, but a road trip to Lexington played between the Cocktail Party and hosting Auburn is a bit more scary. Georgia hasn’t lost in Lexington in 10 years, and I just happen to remember that game all too well. I sat in the endzone as it snowed in Lexington and watched Georgia’s offense sputter it’s way to a loss. This is the last road game for Georgia in 2016, and nothing will come easy.

Georgia 24    Kentucky 20

November 12: Auburn

The Gus Bus pulls into Athens, for what I predict will be the last time, as Georgia returns home for the first time since Homecoming against Vanderbilt. If my predictions hold true, Georgia will be in position to clinch the SEC East with a win over their second biggest rival. Another interesting thing about this game is that Georgia’s athletic department has already announced that the team will be wearing black jerseys at some point this season. This game would make the most sense as it is much cooler in November than it will be earlier in the season. The original blackout game was against Auburn in 2007, so it would seem appropriate that the new tradition of wearing black for one home game a season re-start where it all began. On the field, Georgia will be much, much better than Auburn by this point in the season. If the wheels are off the Gus Bus, this one could get very ugly.

Georgia 36   Auburn 16

November 19: UL Lafayette

Nothing to say about this game.

Georgia A lot    ULL not a lot

November 26: Tech

My theory about Kirby is that he will not only get the program on the right track, but he will also focus on doing what is most important to Georgia fans, beating our biggest rivals. For all his struggles against Florida, Mark Richt got it right with Georgia’s other rivals. Richt had a winning record against Auburn and Tennessee, and an impressive 13-2 record against Tech. Richt restored order to a rivalry that had gotten sideways under Jim Donnan, with Tech winning three straight in the series in the late ‘90s. Georgia will be heading to Atlanta to play for the SEC title a week after this game, and depending on how the opener goes against UNC, they could be playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. There is no way, no way, that Georgia will lose to Tech.

Georgia 40     Tech 21

As you see, if Georgia can manage the early part of their schedule, there is no reason to think they can’t be one of the hottest teams in football heading into their November schedule. November should be a time for the Dawgs to rise up the rankings while other teams drop out of the title picture. Of course this is the SEC, and anyone can win any game, any week, but as far as SEC schedules go, Georgia’s is amazingly manageable this year.

It is hard to believe, but I think the opener against UNC could be the defining moment of the season. Missouri, South Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Tech are not going to be good. I think Tennessee and Florida are two of the most overrated teams in the country. Ole Miss is good, but their early season schedule could have them in a tailspin by the time Georgia travels to Oxford. Georgia will be favored in at least 11 of the 12 games they play this season, with the Ole Miss game being the only exception. Mark Richt lost his job because he couldn’t live up to expectations. Kirby won’t enter the season with a lot of hype, but let this team go undefeated in September, and the hype machine will be working overtime.

10-2 at worst and playing in Atlanta. That isn’t just what we should expect, it is what we deserve.

Glory, Glory