College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Georgia Bulldogs season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Georgia Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 12-2 overall, 7-1 in SEC
Head Coach: Kirby Smart, 5th year, 44-12
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 4
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 4
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 3
No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Offense 3 Things To Know
– Okay, new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, let’s get this thing going already. A pro OC over the last few years after serving for three seasons as the Southern Miss head coach, Monken has to improve an attack that wasn’t miserable, but should’ve done more than 408 yards and 31 points per game.
Those numbers might seem fine, but considering six offensive starters were drafted, failing to score more than 27 points in nine of the last 11 games wasn’t okay. By comparison, the 2018 offense scored 27 or more points in 12 of the 14 games.
CFN in 60 Video: Georgia Bulldogs Preview
The biggest losses are on the offensive line, with Andrew Thomas taken with the fourth overall pick by the New York Giants, and with Isaiah Wilson going later in the first round to the Tennessee Titans. With guard Cade Mays leaving for Tennessee, there’s a whole lot of shuffling for offensive line coach Matt Luke – the former Ole Miss head man – to do.
However, Ben Cleveland is a strong inside option at either guard or center, and Jamaree Salyer is a big-time talent who waited his turn behind Wilson. The line will be fine.
– The offensive backfield just reloaded. It would’ve been nice if this was when the Justin Fields era kicked in full force, but getting Jamie Newman to transfer over from Wake Forest was a fantastic plus – he’s got the size and the NFL tools Jake Fromm was missing.
The wild cards are USC transfer JT Daniels – he’ll likely be the main man next year – and former star recruit D’Wan Mathis, a big, talented pro-style passer who got past a frightening emergency surgery to take care of a brain cyst. Also in the mix is Stetson Bennett – last year’s backup who completed 20-of-27 throws.
D’Andre Swift is now a Detroit Lion, but it’s Georgia – the running backs are always going to be fantastic. Zamir White – who would’ve been the superstar of the 2018 recruiting class if it wasn’t for Justin Fields – was third on the team in rushing with 408 yards and three scores, and James Cook – brother of Dalvin Cook – adds even more speed. On the way is five-star recruit Kendall Milton, a 6-1, 220-pound back who can be a workhorse.
– The receiving corps has a few superstars, but it needs more options rise up. The Bulldogs have 1-2 true sophomore, five-star punch of George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock about to do a whole lot with more opportunities. Throw in junior Demetris Robertson – who finished third on the team with 30 catches – and 6-5, 245-pound Florida State tight end transfer Tre’ McKitty, and the new starting quarterback will have plenty of weapons to work with.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Defense 3 Things To Know
– Linebacker Tae Crowder. He’s the only player from the No. 3 defense in college football – and No. 1 in scoring and run D – to be drafted. There might be a few losses for defensive coordinator Dan Lanning to deal with, but 11 of the top 14 tacklers are expected to return.
It all starts with a deep linebacking corps that’s way too full of talent, even without Crowder.
Leading tackler Monty Rice is the leader of the bunch whether or not he plays in the middle or the outside – he made 89 tackles – but the game-wreckers should be sophomores Azeez Ojulari – who led the team with 5.5 sacks – and 2019 five-star recruit Nolan Smith on the outside. That’s just the start. The rotation and alignment depending on the need will be as deep and productive as any in America.
– Being a defensive lineman in the Georgia system is hardly glamorous, but the production up front against the run has been special. 6-6, 330-pound junior Jordan Davis might not come up with amazing stats, but he’s going to be a force on the nose. 6-5, 300-pound Julian Rochester and 6-3, 301-pound senior Devonte Wyatt will rotate next to Davis to gum things up.
There might not be any killer pass rushers – getting into the backfield was a wee bit of an issue – but there’s 6-5, 290-pounders Malik Herring and Travon Walker on the ends to hold up.
– The secondary might lose safety JR Reed, but Richard LeCounte is an All-America-caliber playmaker back at one spot, and corners Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes and DJ Daniel are all big, physical, and experienced. More picks are a must, though – LeCounte and Reed accounted for five of the eight interceptions.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Georgia Bulldogs Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Georgia Bulldogs Players
Best Georgia Bulldogs Offensive Player
WR George Pickens, Soph.
One of the star recruits of the 2020 season rose up and rocked right away, leading the team with 49 catches for 727 yards and eight scores as the main man for an underwhelming passing game.
The 6-3, 190-pounder has the size, the speed, and the next-level talent to become a volume-catcher along with a deep threat. Decent throughout last year, he failed to come up with a 100-yard game until the Sugar Bowl win over Baylor, ripping it up with 12 catches for 175 yards and one score.
He might not do that on a regular basis this year, but he’s not going to have just one 100-yard day again.
2. QB Jamie Newman, Sr.
3. RB Zamir White, Soph.
4. C Ben Cleveland, Sr.
5. OT Jamaree Salyer, Jr.
Best Georgia Bulldogs Defensive Player
S Richard LeCounte, Sr.
How is he not in the NFL already? At 5-11 and 190 pounds, he has good size to go along with the range, experience, and ability to always be around the ball, and he’s not afraid to hit. He followed up a 74-tackle sophomore season with 61 stops with 4.5 tackles for loss and a team-high four picks, and now he’ll join Monty Rice as one of the leaders of what’s about to be another great Bulldog D.
2. LB Monty Rice, Sr.
3. DT Jordan Davis, Jr.
4. LB Azeez Ojulari, Soph.
5. DE Malik Herring, Sr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Georgia Bulldogs Offense
More big pass plays, more big pass plays, more big pass plays. To be fair to Jake Fromm, the receiving corps had to undergo an overhaul with the top five pass catchers of 2018 gone, and with Lawrence Cager missing a big chunk of the campaign. Even so, the talent in place was strong enough to do a whole lot more.
It’s not that Fromm didn’t throw – the 415 passes as a team were by far the most since 2013 – but there weren’t enough big plays down the field. Fromm averaged 7.4 yards per pass – by comparison, Jalen Hurts averaged over 11, Joe Burrow averaged 10.8, and Justin Fields averaged 9.2 – and the team averaged 7.5. That was the lowest since 2016, after flirting with nine yards per pass over the previous two years.
Backup Stetson Bennett threw an interception in the win over Murray State. Fromm threw three picks against South Carolina, two against LSU, and none against anyone else – those were the team’s two losses, and Fromm averaged under six yards per pass in both of them.
Going back to a loss to Vanderbilt in the middle of 2016, Georgia has won its last 27 games when it averages 7.8 yards or more per pass.
By the way, Jamie Newman averaged 7.9 yards per throw last year for Wake Forest.
Biggest Key To The Georgia Bulldogs Defense
A few more plays behind the line would be nice.
It’s nitpicking time. When a defense finished third in the country and leads the nation in fewest points allowed, it’s hard to complain too much. However, again, a couple of more sacks and tackles for loss wouldn’t be a bad thing.
It’s a bit by design – the defense swallowed up everything – but there just weren’t a whole lot of tackles for loss after coming up with 93 in 2017.
The D generated 65 two years ago and 76 last season, and sacks have never been that big a deal under Kirby Smart, but …
Generating pressure at Alabama, against Florida, and when Auburn comes to town, though, could be important. For what it’s worth, the two games last season without a sack came against South Carolina in the loss, and in the way-close fight against Notre Dame.
Key Georgia Bulldogs Player To A Successful Season
PK Jared Zirkel, Fr.
Or junior Brooks Buce, or sophomore Jack Podlesny, or any one of the ten kickers lists on the Georgia roster as this is being written. Zirkel, though, is the big-legged recruit out of Texas who might just be the difference between a national championship season and another really, really good campaign.
No matter who it is, replacing Rodrigo Blankenship is asking a lot. All he did was hit 80-of-97 field goals and connect on all 200 extra point attempts in his four years.
Only one Bulldog game in the last two seasons was decided by three points or fewer – Blankenship missed two field goals in the 20-17 loss to South Carolina last year.
Key Game To The Georgia Bulldogs Season
Oct. 31 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville)
The argument could be made that the road game at Alabama early on is everything as a tone-setter. Facing Auburn will be tough, and this year, the South Carolina game that was such a problem last season will be in Columbia. But Georgia can lose to the Crimson Tide, or in one game along the way. It can’t afford a loss to Florida.
Even if the Bulldogs lose to Bama and drop one other game along the way, if they can beat the Gators, go 10-2, and get to the SEC Championship, there’s a great chance they can still get into the College Football Playoff as a two-loss SEC champ. But lose to Florida, and just getting to Atlanta in early December probably won’t happen.
– Georgia Bulldogs Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Georgia Fun Stats
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Georgia 148 – Opponents 49
– Penalties: Opponents 94 for 713 yards – Georgia 76 for 685 yards
– 4th Down Conversions: Georgia 6-of-10 (60%) – Opponents 6-of-23 (26%)
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia Bulldogs Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
CFN in 60 Video: Georgia Bulldogs Preview
Just keep knocking on that door.
If the goal was to come as close to winning a national championship over the last three seasons without doing it – remember, Oklahoma hasn’t played for the national title in the College Football Playoff era – Georgia would be the winner.
Over those three seasons, Kirby Smart’s program has won 36 games – the same number as Oklahoma.
Alabama and Ohio State have each won 38, and Clemson leads the way with 41, but LSU has won 34, Notre Dame 33, and Wisconsin and Penn State each check in with 31.
Even schools like UCF (35), Appalachian State (33), and Boise State (33) can’t quite get to 36.
Georgia is a true college football superpower, but without the College Football Playoff trophy to prove it.
The recruiting has been as good or better than anyone, the coaching staff – including stealing Nick Saban’s strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran and making him the head of special teams – is top-drawer, and there’s nothing missing but a little bit of luck.
The Bulldogs were almost certainly one epic Jalen Hurts performance – and one bad Justin Fields pass – away from slipping into the College Football Playoff in 2018.
They were a weird loss to South Carolina away from getting in last year – they probably would’ve been in no matter what had they made it to the SEC Championship at 12-0 – and they came one Wisconsin stalled final drive in the 2017 Big Ten Championship away from not having to deal with Alabama in the CFP.
Yeah … just keep knocking on that door, and eventually you’ll get into the CFP national championship celebration.
In what’s about to be a weird and wacky year, this year’s team has the talent, the experience, and the depth to at least get really, really close again.
Set The Georgia Bulldogs Regular Season Win Total At … 10.5
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 10
If the Bulldogs can win at Alabama, then they should be good enough to go at least 11-1, if not 12-0.
Figure a loss to the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa – however, if there aren’t fans in the stands, playing on the road might not be that big a deal – and then it comes down to whether or not the Dawgs lose to Florida, or misfire against a Kentucky, Missouri, or South Carolina on the road, or at home against Auburn or Tennessee.
There’s no LSU or Texas A&M to face, and the non-conference schedule is Virginia, Georgia Tech, ULM and East Tennessee State – for an SEC team this good, the schedule isn’t that bad.
Georgia will be right there again. Don’t take for granted how hard that is to do.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
