Coming off a 2019 that saw Georgia come so close to reaching the College Football Playoff, the Bulldogs open up the 2020 season with a Monday night game vs Virginia in Atlanta.
If Georgia – which should be favored in every game minus an October visit to Alabama – takes care of business, then UGA should close out the season in the same stadium it started in.
The Dawgs return a lot of talent in 2020, mostly on a defense that ranked No. 1 in America last season.
To read up more on Georgia’s returning production next season compared to the rest of the country, you can take a deeper dive at this link.
To take a look at Georgia’s projected offensive depth chart for next season, click here.
On offense, Georgia lost a ton of production, including its starting quarterback, its top two running backs, 4 starting offensive linemen and a star wide receiver.
By looking at who Georgia lost from last season’s offense it’s hard to picture the Dawgs making another big run, but it’s important to remember that Kirby Smart has secured three consecutive top ranked recruiting classes. In addition to the loads of talent waiting on the depth chart, Georgia was also able to land Heisman hopeful quarterback Jamie Newman from Wake Forest.
If Georgia is going to have another memorable season, it will need these new offensive faces to be capable of moving the ball more than James Coley’s offense was able to in 2019.
The addition of Todd Monken, who I’d say is Georgia’s biggest get this offseason, should make that possible.
With a ferocious defense and revamped offense, here’s how I see this season playing out for Georgia.
SEPTEMBER:
Game No. 1: Virginia (Atlanta)
Dawgs open up vs a Virginia team that represented the coastal division in the ACC Championship last season. This season, though, the Cavs lose too much talent to keep up with Georgia.
UGA: 38 — UVA 14
Game No. 2: East Tennessee State
Easy one for Georgia here against an ETSU team that finished 9th in their conference last season.
Georgia beats the FCS opponent easily.
UGA: 62 — ETSU: 10
Game No. 3: @ Alabama
No way will the Bulldogs be favored to win this game in Tuscaloosa. And they shouldn’t.
A top-five early season matchup between the SEC’s two most dominant teams.
Sounds exciting, but this is the toughest possible game Georgia could have asked for. Considering how UGA has played in recent major road games vs the SEC West (Auburn 2017, LSU 2018), I do not think Georgia will win this game right now.
A close loss does not hurt your season-long goals like a blowout would; and honestly a slim defeat to mighty Alabama may not even hurt your goals at all. For now, that’s what I’m rolling with.
UGA: 24 — Alabama: 28
Game No. 4: UL Monroe
Georgia either takes out its anger from the previous week on ULM or it keeps its momentum going after a huge win.
Either way, Georgia destroys ULM.
UGA: 66 — ULM: 0
OCTOBER:
Game No. 5: Vanderbilt
Vandy is fresh off an awful season and will be no match again this season for UGA.
UGA: 45 — Vandy: 6
Game No. 6: Auburn
Auburn in October just does not sit right with me. The Tigers should be undefeated at the time of this matchup, and depending on how our game vs Bama goes, could be ranked head of Georgia.
This game is a must win for the Dawgs, who will have the more talented team and the home field advantage.
The DawgNation powers UGA to victory.
UGA: 31– Auburn: 10
Game No. 7: @ Missouri
This is a meeting that will be labeled a trap-game for Georgia. Missouri on the road has the potential to be a slip-up game, but Kirby has the Dawgs ready to go.
UGA: 30 — Mizzou: 21
Game No. 8: Florida (Jacksonville)
This has the potential to be another highly ranked showdown in Jacksonville this year.
Both teams’ seasons will likely be on the line when this game begins. Georgia has won the last three in a row and will make it four on Halloween night with a close win over the Gators.
UGA: 24 — UF: 17
NOVEMBER:
Game No. 9: @ South Carolina
The Gamecocks have bragging rights over Georgia for the first time in five years and will have the crowd going nuts in Columbia.
Crowd noise has been an issue for Georgia in the past at Williams-Bryce and it could be again this season.
The Gamecocks have Georgia’s number, and they took us right to the end but Georgia prevails late.
UGA: 27 — SC: 20
Game No. 10: Tennessee
Tennessee will be much improved and is on the right track under Jeremy Pruitt, but the Vols are not ready for the Dawgs yet.
Georgia takes care of business easily.
UGA: 38 — Vols: 17
Game No. 11: @ Kentucky
I do not see this being the easiest game for Georgia. I would predict that the Wildcats stay with Georgia for the first half and a little into the third before UGA use overpowers them and runs away with it.
UGA: 30 — UK: 13
Game No. 12: Georgia Tech
Easy win.
UGA: 41 — Tech: 10
FINAL REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 11-1
SEC CHAMPTIONSHIP, DECEMBER:
SEC Championship: Alabama
Georgia, which lost to Alabama earlier in the season according to my predictions, gets a second shot at beating the Tide. This time, Georgia does not squander an early lead and Jamie Newman has the game of his life.
Dawgs beat Bama and punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.
UGA: 31 — Bama: 27
FINAL RECORD: 12-1
