College Football Insider – Georgia Bulldogs

GEORGIA BULLDOGS: A BIG HILL TO CLIMB

Today we take a look at the Georgia Bulldogs, who were ranked #1 in some pre-season polls last season but disappointed:

2008 Record: 10-3 SU, 4-7-1 ATS

Three-Year record (’06-’08): 30-9 SU, 17-17-2 ATS

BetOnline Sportsbook NCAA Football Odds

To Win SEC East Division

Florida -700

GEORGIA +500

Kentucky +2500

South Carolina +1400

Tennessee +1200

Vanderbilt +5000

To Win SEC title +800

To Win National title +5000

Over 8.5 wins -110

Under 8.5 wins -130

Georgia looked like a team that was loaded last year; at least they looked loaded to some people. The Bulldogs had a lot of momentum from a big finish to the 2007 season, and a rout over Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl game. They also had the eventual #1 pick in the draft in Matthew Stafford and a Heisman contender in Knowshon Moreno, not to mention a strong defense.

Things didn’t turn out like coach Mark Richt planned. The Bulldogs lost a double-digit decision to Alabama, were trampled on by Florida, and dropped the season finale to rival Georgia Tech. They saved some face with a win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl, but that was little consolation.

Now Stafford has to be replaced, and Joe Cox, a senior who was one of the top ten prep QB’s in the country when recruited, has been patiently waiting his turn. Cox was 31-0 as a starter in high school, and knows the system, so the position should be in decent hands. Knowshon Moreno also left school and was taken in the first round by Denver. The hole he left was huge, as he ran for 1400 yards and 16 touchdowns. Caleb King, who gained 247 yards last year, is the likely #1 back now.

Georgia had one of the best receiving duos in the country last year, but one-half of that duo has moved on, as Mohamed Massaquoi (58 receptions) left and was drafted by Cleveland in the second round. A.J. Green, who had 963 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman, is back. Accomplished depth is a problem, although redshirt freshman Tavarres King could supply a spark to the offense. All five offensive linemen are back in a unit that is one of the best in the country. The standouts here are the tackles – Trinton Sturdivant and Clint Boling. Protecting Cox probably won’t be very much of a problem.

On defense, the ‘Dogs have eight starters returning, and they are looking for defensive tackle Jeff Owens, who missed 2008, to bounce back strong from injury. He’ll be one of three seniors on the defensive line. The starting linebackers are all juniors, but they are all returning starters. The best of that bunch is Rennie Curran on the outside. He was an All-SEC performer last year and led the team with 115 tackles. No returning member of the defense had more than 3.5 sacks last year, so the Bulldogs will have to find a pass rush from somewhere.

Cornerback Asher Allen departs from the secondary, and leaves a hole that freshman Branden Smith, a very highly-touted recruit, will try to fill. The other corner, Pricne Miller, and strong safety Reshad Jones have gained pre-season All-SEC mention. This unit allowed only 190 passing yards per game. The stop unit should be just fine.

Georgia starts the season tough with a visit to Oklahoma State, and the Bulldogs end the season with a trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech. The SEC road games aren’t impossible, as they go to Arkansas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. They have home games against South Carolina, LSU, Auburn and Kentucky, as well as Arizona State. They have an extra week to prepare before the Florida game, and that is followed by a walkover against Tennessee Tech. This schedule should accommodate a nine-win season, which would be good for OVER 8.5 wins in the BetOnline NCAA football futures betting odds (priced at -110), but that is as far as they will go. Forget a division or conference title, because this club, which under-achieves much of the time, will never get by Florida.