2018 Recap: After a devastating loss to the Crimson Tide in the title game last January, they were going to be back with a chip on their shoulder. They lost a few pieces from the team that made the title game the year before, but I didn’t think that would affect them. They got off to another fast start and finished the season as champs of the SEC East for the second straight season. Their offense piled up points and their defense handled their business on that side of the football. They made the SEC Championship game again with revenge on the mind, facing Alabama. It felt like the title game all over again with Georgia jumping out to an early start again. Then, Bama came back and handed Georgia another loss on the big stage.
Key Losses: RB Elijah Holyfield, WR Riley Ridley, WR Mecole Hardman, TE Issac Nauta, C Lamont Gaillard, DE Jonathan Ledbetter, LB D’Andre Walker & DB Deandre Baker.
2019 Outlook: They’ve claimed this division in back to back years already and I like for them to win it again for the third straight season. Kirby Smart will have new play-callers on each side of the football as Mel Tucker left to become the head coach of Colorado and Jim Chaney became the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. I don’t see those losses affecting Georgia on either side of the football. Jake Fromm returns as one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. The running game will remain one of the best with D’Andre Swift leading the way. On defense, the big names may not be there, but they feature a lot of talent and depth in each tier. Kirby Smart and his team have a schedule that consists of games against Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Kentucky. They have a tough road battle against Auburn. Also, they have their usual tilt with the Florida Gators in Jacksonville which could ultimately decide the SEC East.
