This seems to be the year Bulldog enthusiasts are pointing to as UGA’s year to shine and looking at the Dawgs’ talent; it’s easy to see why. Georgia returns 10 players from an offensive unit that scored 38 points per game in 2012.
Aaron Murray returns for what seems like his sixth season and he has the best backfield tandem in the country in Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Gurley, who was one of my fantasy backs last year, earned first team All-SEC honors after rushing for 1,385 yards and 17 TDs.
Despite the dynamic play of Gurley and Marshall, Georgia actually generated more offense through the air last season and Murray will have big play receiver Malcolm Mitchell back to stretch the field and Artie Lynch at tight end. Georgia did a poor job of protecting Murray but four starters come back on the line and should do a better job this season.
The Bulldog defense will be short on experience this season as the team returns only three starters on that side of the ball. The two deep is still tenuous and UGA will be counting on underclassmen to get settled into position quickly in fall practice. Two of the three returning starters, linebacker Amarlo Herrera and Damian Swann, figure to compete for All-Conference.
The young defense will be tested early and often as Georgia starts the season with Palmetto state showdowns, traveling to Clemson in the season opener and hosting South Carolina in its second game.
After a tune up against North Texas the Dawgs hosts LSU. If Georgia is 4-0 at the end of that slate then it has to be the #1 team in the country but it could just as easily be 1-3. Those three games and the Cocktail party showdown in Jacksonville against Florida are push games. I have Georgia at 8-0-4.
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